Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission of systematically removing its nominated candidates for the 2027 State House of Assembly elections and replacing them with the names of individuals the party says are unknown to it. In a statement issued on Sunday, August 30, 2026, the NDC National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, said the list of candidates published by INEC for Anambra State contained ten "strange names" that were never authorised or submitted by the party.
Zuwoghe described the development as a deliberate plot to sabotage the NDC ahead of the general election and cause dissatisfaction among its supporters. He said the alleged irregularities were particularly pronounced in Anambra State, the home state of the party's presidential candidate, Peter Obi, where ten individuals who did not emerge from the party's nomination process had been listed as its candidates.
"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 unauthorised names in various constituencies, principally in the Anambra State House of Assembly," Zuwoghe said. "Ten names, unknown to the party; names not authorised 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 chairman listed the disputed names as 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; Ngoebisi Obinna for Idemili North; 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.
Zuwoghe insisted that none of the listed individuals emerged from the party's primaries or appeal process. He explained that after the conclusion of the party's primaries, stakeholders from Anambra, the party leadership, representatives of Peter Obi, and the appeals panel produced and endorsed a final list of candidates. The list was signed off by the relevant stakeholders before being uploaded to the INEC portal using the access code provided to the party by the electoral commission.
However, Zuwoghe alleged that INEC officials responsible for the backend of the portal kept nine of the names on "Pending" status, claiming that the names were already in the commission's system and had been submitted by officials who monitored the party's primaries. He said despite the party's formal objection and the submission of the names of its legitimate nominees, INEC allegedly declined to replace the disputed names.
"I, as Chairman of the Party and custodian of the code given to the NDC for the upload of our candidates, never uploaded those names, and I unequivocally state that the party did not also upload those names," Zuwoghe said. "To further confirm that there was a predetermined effort on the part of INEC to impose the said nine candidates on the party, and embarrass both NDC and Mr. Peter Obi, INEC went behind the NDC to collect the Form EC-9 directly from the candidates, bypassing the party, and uploading same."
The NDC chairman called on the INEC chairman to immediately investigate the matter and determine how the names found their way onto the commission's published list. He also urged INEC to extend the investigation to other states, including Benue and Imo, where he said the party had observed a similar pattern of authentic candidates being fenced out for "INEC-chosen impostors." He warned that the party would seek judicial intervention if the matter was not resolved, as the alleged infraction ran contrary to the Electoral Act and INEC's own guidelines.
The dispute has raised fresh concerns about the integrity of the candidate nomination process ahead of the 2027 elections, particularly as political parties rely on INEC to faithfully publish the names of candidates validly nominated by them. The NDC's accusation that INEC officials may have deliberately substituted candidates without party authorisation threatens to deepen mistrust in the electoral process.
As of the time of this report, INEC had not issued an official response to the allegations. The NDC has vowed to pursue the matter to the very end, ensuring that the alleged mischief is reversed and that its authentic candidates are allowed to contest the elections.
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