The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has challenged the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) to provide evidence that the commission replaced any of its nominated candidates for 2027 general elections.
Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr Adedayo Oketola, stated this in an interview with newsmen on Monday in Abuja.
Oketola said that the attention of INEC has been drawn to allegation by the NDC that the commission replaced some of the candidates purportedly nominated by the party with names alleged unknown to the party.
The allegation according to NDC is particularly in respect of some State House of Assembly constituencies in Anambra.
In his reaction, Oketola described the allegation that INEC went behind the NDC to obtain Form EC9 directly from individual aspirants and thereafter, uploaded their particulars as candidates without the authority of the party as serious.
He noted that such an allegation was capable of objective verification from the commission’s electronic and documentary records.
“Rather than make categorical assertions on matters that can readily be established from those records, the vommission will examine the relevant records relating to the constituencies identified by the NDC.
“If the party has evidence implicating any official of the Commission in any unauthorised interference with its candidate nomination process, it should make such evidence and the particulars of the officials concerned available to the commission.
“Any credible allegation of misconduct by an official of the commission will be investigated in accordance with established procedures,” he said.
Oketola added that the allegations required some clarification regarding the role of INEC and the procedure for the nomination and submission of candidates by political parties.
“For the avoidance of doubt, INEC does not nominate candidates for political parties.
“The nomination of candidates is the responsibility of political parties, subject to compliance with the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026 and other applicable laws, Regulations and Guidelines,” he said.
Oketola explained that the commission did not possess the legal authority to select a candidate for a political party or substitute its own preferred candidate for a person validly nominated by a political party in accordance with the law.
He further said that the candidate nomination portal provided by INEC was the platform through which political parties submit the particulars of their candidates using access credentials issued for that purpose.
He added that the activities carried out in relation to the submission of candidates through the portal were electronically recorded and were capable of verification from the commission’s records and audit trail.
Oketola said it was therefore possible to establish objectively the history and source of entries relating to any candidate whose name appears on the portal.
“Accordingly, the allegation that officials of the commission introduced or “smuggled” candidates into the NDC’s list is not a matter that should be determined by speculation.
“The electronic and documentary records relating to the affected constituencies are capable of establishing the relevant facts.
“It is equally necessary to clarify the distinction between INEC’s responsibility to monitor political party primaries and the responsibility of political parties to nominate and submit their candidates,” he said.
Oketola said that INEC’s monitoring of a political party primary did not amount to nomination of a candidate by INEC.
He also added that a report made by officials who monitor a primary did not confer upon the commission the power to choose a candidate for the political party.
He explained that the monitoring process served the statutory purposes prescribed by law and did not transfer the party’s responsibility for nomination to the commission.
“Where questions arise as to the person validly emerged from a political party primary, the effect of an appeal arising from that primary, or the validity of any subsequent attempt to alter the outcome of the nomination process.
“Those questions must be resolved strictly within the framework of the Electoral Act 2026 and other applicable laws.
“INEC cannot assume the role of a political party in choosing its candidates, nor can it disregard applicable statutory requirements governing the nomination and submission of candidates,” he said.
Oketola, however, emphasised that INEC had no institutional interest in the choice of candidate made by any political party.
He stressed that that INEC’s responsibility is to administer the electoral process impartially and in accordance with the Constitution, the Electoral Act and applicable Regulations and Guidelines.
“Political parties also have a corresponding responsibility to ensure that their nomination processes, internal appeals, submission of candidates and use of the commission’s candidate nomination portal are undertaken strictly in accordance with the law and within the prescribed timelines,” he said.
Oketola reiterated that INEC would continue to discharge its responsibilities transparently, impartially and in accordance with the rule of law.
“Where legitimate concerns are raised concerning the candidate nomination process, the commission will address them on the basis of its records and the applicable law.
“The commission will neither nominate candidates for political parties nor lend itself to the imposition of candidates on any political party,” he said.(NAN)
