The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of allegedly replacing its nominated candidates for the 2027 state House of Assembly elections with names the party says it never submitted.
The party’s National Chairman, Moses Zuwoghe, made the allegation on Sunday, claiming that 10 unauthorised names appeared on INEC’s published list of NDC candidates for constituencies in Anambra State.
Zuwoghe described the development as a deliberate attempt to undermine the party ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that the alleged substitution could create confusion within the party and among its supporters.
According to him, the names published by INEC were neither selected nor authorised by the NDC and were not uploaded to the commission’s candidate portal by the party.
He said the situation was particularly troubling because Anambra is the home state of Peter Obi, the NDC presidential candidate.
Zuwoghe insisted that, as the party chairman and custodian of the credentials required to upload its candidates, he did not submit the disputed names to INEC.
Among the names the party described as unauthorised are Umennaajiego Jude Ezenwa for Onitsha South 1, Akpotue Obinna Chibuike for Onitsha South 2, Nwankwo Chiemerie for Orumba North, Maduagwu Eric K for Anaocha 1 and Ngoebisi Obinna.
Others listed by the party include Isintume Charles for Njikoka 1, Nwachukwu Nonso for Nnewi South, Okeke Ifeanyi Akunne for Nnewi South 2, Nnonyelu Samson E for Ayamelum and Azotani Chuks Francis for Dunukofia.
The NDC chairman said the alleged substitution violated the Electoral Act and INEC’s guidelines on the nomination and publication of candidates.
He argued that where the commission had concerns about the names submitted by a political party, the appropriate action would have been to leave the affected positions vacant rather than insert candidates who were not nominated by the party.
Zuwoghe called on the INEC chairman to immediately investigate the allegation and determine how the disputed names found their way onto the commission’s published list.
He also demanded that the investigation be extended to other states, including Benue and Imo, where he alleged that similar incidents had occurred.
According to him, the alleged manipulation had not only embarrassed the party and its genuine candidates but had also generated dissatisfaction among its supporters in Nigeria and abroad.
Zuwoghe further alleged that there was an emerging pattern in which INEC officials were preventing political parties from uploading their preferred candidates while allegedly inserting individuals not chosen by the parties.
He warned that such a practice, if established, could undermine confidence in the electoral process and deepen internal crises within political parties ahead of the 2027 elections.
