{
  "id": 4778597,
  "title": "INEC: We Do Not Nominate or Smuggle Candidates for Parties, to Probe Allegations",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/inec-we-do-not-nominate-or-smuggle-candidates-for-parties-to-probe",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-01T03:53:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "This Day",
    "slug": "this-day",
    "url": "https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/09/01/inec-we-do-not-nominate-or-smuggle-candidates-for-parties-to-probe-allegations/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has refuted allegations made by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) regarding the removal of candidates previously nominated by the party for the 2027 general election and their replacement with unknown individuals. NDC claimed that some of its candidates were taken off INEC's list and replaced by persons who were neither nominated nor authorized by the party, particularly in certain House of Assembly constituencies in Anambra State. However, Adedayo Oketola, the Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, clarified that INEC cannot nominate candidates for political parties. The responsibility lies with the parties themselves, as mandated by the constitution, the Electoral Act 2026, and other relevant laws. Oketola emphasized that the commission does not have the power to select candidates for political parties or replace a candidate nominated by a party with another individual. He further explained that INEC's candidate nomination portal only receives candidate details from political parties through access credentials granted to them. The commission has been recording all activities on the portal, allowing them to trace the history of entries and establish the origin of any disputed names. Additionally, INEC published the names and biodata of 19 governorship candidates and their running mates contesting the 2027 general election in Bauchi State, displayed at the INEC office in Bauchi. The list included candidates from various political parties, and supporters and officials of these parties were seen at the INEC office verifying the inclusion of their candidates in accordance with the commission's requirements and electoral laws.",
  "summary": "• Says electronic records will expose source of disputed names •Publishes 19 guber candidates for Bauchi Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi and Sunday Aborisade in Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission",
  "key_points": [
    "INEC denies allegations of nominating or smuggling candidates for parties.",
    "NDC claims candidates removed and replaced by unknown individuals in Anambra State.",
    "INEC cannot select candidates; responsibility lies with political parties."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The INEC's clarification that it does not nominate or smuggle candidates for parties shifts the onus back to the parties to verify and confirm their own nominees, amid allegations of candidate tampering.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}