{
  "id": 4587657,
  "title": "INEC denies replacing NDC candidates for 2027 elections",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/inec-denies-replacing-ndc-candidates-for-2027-elections",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-31T07:02:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/inec-denies-replacing-ndc-candidates-for-2027-elections/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has firmly refuted allegations from the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) that it had removed their candidates for the 2027 general elections and substituted them with unnamed individuals. These allegations, primarily concerning specific State House of Assembly constituencies in Anambra State, were addressed by INEC’s Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser Adedayo Oketola during an interview on Monday.\n\nAccording to the NDC, nine candidates were uploaded onto the electoral portal as if they were their chosen representatives in certain constituencies, yet the party claimed they were not authorized nor submitted to INEC. Notably, Moses Zuwoghe, the NDC National Chairman, expressed concern over this development, particularly since Anambra is the birthplace of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi.\n\nHowever, Oketola stressed that INEC has no authority to nominate candidates on behalf of political parties or replace their officially nominated candidates. Election laws dictate that the responsibility of nominating candidates falls entirely on the political parties themselves, provided they adhere to constitutional provisions, the Electoral Act 2026, and other relevant regulations and guidelines.\n\nINEC's role is strictly limited to administering the electoral process as per the established laws and guidelines, not to interfere with the parties’ internal affairs or candidate nominations. The candidate nomination portal provided by INEC is the designated platform where political parties submit details of their candidates using credentials issued specifically for this purpose. All transactions on the portal are diligently recorded and can be meticulously verified through the Commission’s records and audit trail.\n\nOketola emphasized that allegations of INEC officials inserting candidates into the NDC’s list should be substantiated with objective evidence, citing the electronic and documentary records available. He clarified that INEC's monitoring of political party primaries is strictly for statutory purposes and does not equate to the Commission nominating candidates. This monitoring process serves to ensure that the parties follow the required procedures and timelines.\n\nConcerning the NDC’s specific claim that INEC officials obtained Form EC9 directly from individual candidates and uploaded their details without authorization, Oketola described this as a serious allegation. However, he assured that the Commission would investigate using its electronic and documentary records to objectively verify any claims. He urged the NDC to present concrete evidence and identify any officials involved in such unauthorized activities.\n\nAny credible allegations of misconduct against INEC officials would be thoroughly investigated in line with established procedures. INEC’s primary concern, Oketola reiterated, is to conduct elections impartially and in accordance with the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026, and all applicable regulations. The electoral body remains unwavering in its commitment to handle the candidate nomination process transparently and impartially, ready to address any legitimate concerns based on its records and legal provisions.",
  "summary": "INEC denies allegations by the NDC that it replaced candidates for the 2027 elections, stating it has no legal authority to nominate or substitute INEC can Read More: https://punchng.com/inec-denies-replacing-ndc-candidates-for-2027-elections/",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Trust",
        "title": "Ex-IGP’s name missing as INEC releases list of Nasarawa gov’ship candidates",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/ex-igps-name-missing-as-inec-releases-list-of-nasarawa-govship",
        "published": "2026-08-29T21:02:29.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "Morning recap: Four reasons US shouldn’t release my FBI records –Tinubu, INEC unveils 2027 gov candidates, other top stories",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/morning-recap-four-reasons-us-shouldnt-release-my-fbi-records-tinubu",
        "published": "2026-08-30T06:58:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Ripples Nigeria",
        "title": "2027: INEC releases details of governorship candidates (See list)",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/2027-inec-releases-details-of-governorship-candidates-see-list",
        "published": "2026-08-30T08:50:29.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}