The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected claims by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) that electoral officials removed party-nominated candidates for the 2027 general elections and inserted unauthorized names. 

The controversy arose after the NDC alleged on social media that nine candidates for the Anambra State House of Assembly were replaced with names unknown to the party leadership. NDC National Chairman Moses Zuwoghe stated that the situation caused severe distress, particularly because Anambra is the home state of the party's presidential candidate, Peter Obi. The party demanded an immediate investigation extending to similar occurrences reported in Benue and Imo states.

Addressing the accusations, INEC’s Chief Press Secretary, Adedayo Oketola, maintained that the commission lacks the legal authority to choose or substitute candidates for any political party. He clarified that candidate nomination is exclusively the responsibility of political parties, while INEC's role is strictly to administer the electoral framework under the Constitution and the Electoral Act 2026.

According to INEC, all party submissions occur through a secure candidate nomination portal that automatically generates electronic records and audit trails. Oketola explained that these digital logs provide an objective history of every entry, making it possible to trace the exact source of any candidate's registration without relying on speculation.

While acknowledging the gravity of the NDC's claims—including assertions that officials bypassed the party to obtain nomination forms directly from individual aspirants—Oketola urged the party to submit formal evidence and specific details regarding any allegedly compromised personnel. He assured stakeholders that the commission would review its internal records and investigate any credible evidence of misconduct impartially, emphasizing that INEC holds no institutional interest in the specific candidates fielded by any political party.