The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of systematically removing its nominated candidates for the 2027 general elections and replacing them with unauthorized individuals unknown to the party. The accusation follows INEC's publication of the list of State Houses of Assembly candidates, which the NDC claims contains names that were not submitted or approved by the party.
NDC Condemns INEC's Alleged Candidate Substitution
Reacting to the list, NDC National Chairman Senator Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe characterized the alleged action as a deliberate attempt to sabotage the party and trigger internal discord among its supporters ahead of the polls. In a statement, Zuwoghe said, "The Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, totally condemns the action of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its officials over the uploading and publication of unauthorized names in various constituencies, principally in the Anambra State House of Assembly (home state of our Presidential Candidate, His Excellency Peter Obi), where nine (9) names, unknown to the party; names not authorized by the party; names not sent by the party to INEC, in accordance with the law, have now been uploaded and published as candidates of the party."
The NDC leadership highlighted that the nine names in Anambra were neither authorized by the party nor submitted to INEC as required by law, yet they were published as official NDC candidates. This, according to the party, constitutes a violation of electoral procedures and a breach of trust.
Call for Investigation in Benue and Imo
The NDC leadership called on the INEC Chairman to order an immediate investigation into the process, urging that the probe be extended to other affected states, including Benue and Imo, where similar patterns of candidate substitution were observed. The party's statement added, "The same investigation should also be carried out in other constituencies like Benue, Imo and others, as this mischief has not only caused an embarrassment to the party, its leadership and genuine candidates, but has also caused a lot of disaffection among the millions of the party’s supporters all over the country and in the Diaspora."
Zuwoghe emphasized that the alleged substitutions have not only embarrassed the party and its genuine candidates but have also sown disaffection among its supporters nationwide and abroad. The party views this as a coordinated effort to destabilize its structure ahead of the 2027 elections.
Impact on Party Supporters and 2027 Elections
The NDC's accusation comes as parties across Nigeria prepare for the 2027 general elections, with candidate lists being a critical step in the electoral process. The party has expressed concern that such actions could undermine confidence in the electoral system and create confusion among voters who may see unauthorized candidates on the ballot.
The party has urged INEC to act swiftly to correct the lists and restore the names of its legitimate candidates. The NDC also warned that failure to investigate could lead to further disputes and legal challenges, potentially disrupting the electoral calendar. As of now, INEC has not issued a public response to the allegations, and the NDC awaits the outcome of its demand for an investigation.
