The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied allegations by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) that its officials removed candidates nominated by the party for the 2027 Anambra State House of Assembly election and replaced them with impostors.

INEC said it had no legal authority to nominate or substitute candidates for political parties, stressing that the responsibility for nominating and submitting candidates rests solely with the parties, subject to the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026 and other applicable laws.

The commission’s position followed NDC’s allegation that 10 names published on INEC’s list of candidates for Anambra State constituencies were unknown to the party.

The NDC had accused INEC officials of smuggling the names into its list after allegedly preventing the party from uploading its authentic candidates to the commission’s candidate nomination portal.

The NDC National Chairman, Moses Zuwoghe, alleged that the names were smuggled into the party’s list by INEC officials and called for an investigation covering Anambra and other states, including Benue and Imo

The party listed the affected candidates 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 and Ngoebisi Obinna for Idemili North.

Others were 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.

But in a chat with The Guardian on Monday, Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola clarified that INEC does not nominate candidates for political parties.

He said that the commission does 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.

According to him, political parties submit the particulars of their candidates through INEC’s candidate nomination portal using access credentials issued to them.

He said all activities relating to candidate submission through the portal are electronically recorded and can be verified through the commission’s records and audit trail.

Oketola dismissed the allegation that INEC officials introduced or “smuggled” candidates into the NDC’s list as a matter that could be established through speculation.

He said: “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.

“The Commission’s monitoring of a political party primary does not amount to nomination of a candidate by INEC. Neither does a report made by officials who monitor a primary confer upon the Commission the power to choose a candidate for the political party.

“The monitoring process serves the statutory purposes prescribed by law and does not transfer the party’s responsibility for nomination to the Commission.

“Where questions arise as to the person who 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.

Oketola clarified that the commission role in monitoring political party primaries, saying such monitoring does not amount to nominating candidates for the parties.

According to Oketola, reports produced by INEC officials who monitor party primaries do not give the commission the power to choose candidates for political parties.

He said questions concerning who validly emerged from a party primary, the effect of appeals arising from such primaries, or attempts to alter the outcome of a nomination process must be resolved under the Electoral Act 2026 and other applicable laws.

Oketola described the NDC’s specific allegation that INEC officials obtained Form EC9 directly from individual aspirants or candidates and subsequently uploaded their details without the party’s authorisation as “particularly serious”.

He said the allegation was capable of being objectively verified from the commission’s electronic and documentary records.

“Rather than make categorical assertions on matters that can readily be established from those records, the Commission will examine the relevant records relating to the constituencies identified by the NDC,” he said.

Oketola also challenged the party to submit any evidence implicating INEC officials in unauthorised interference with its candidate nomination process.

“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,” he added.

He said that any credible allegation of misconduct against an INEC official would be investigated in accordance with established procedures..

Oketola said INEC had no institutional interest in the choice of candidate made by any political party.

“Its responsibility is to administer the electoral process impartially and in accordance with the Constitution, the Electoral Act and applicable Regulations and Guidelines,” he said.

He also reminded political parties of their responsibility to ensure that their nomination processes, internal appeals, submission of candidates and use of the commission’s nomination portal comply with the law and prescribed timelines.

Oketola said INEC would continue to address legitimate concerns about the candidate nomination process 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.