The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has challenged the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) to provide evidence that the commission replaced ANY of its nominated candidates for 2027 general elections.

Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, stated this in an interview with newsmen on Monday in Abuja.

Oketola said that the attention of INEC has been drawn to allegation by the NDC that the commission replaced some of the candidates purportedly nominated by the party with names alleged unknown to the party.

The allegation according to NDC is particularly in respect of some State House of Assembly constituencies in Anambra.

In his reaction, Oketola described the allegation that INEC went behind the NDC to obtain Form EC9 directly from individual aspirants and thereafter, uploaded their particulars as candidates without the authority of the party as serious.

He noted that such an allegation was capable of objective verification 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.

“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.

“Any credible allegation of misconduct by an official of the commission will be investigated in accordance with established procedures,” he said.

Oketola added that the allegations required some clarification regarding the role of INEC and the procedure for the nomination and submission of candidates by political parties.

“For the avoidance of doubt, INEC does not nominate candidates for political parties.

“The nomination of candidates is the responsibility of political parties, subject to compliance with the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026 and other applicable laws, Regulations and Guidelines,” he said.

Oketola explained that the commission did 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.

He further said that the candidate nomination portal provided by INEC was the platform through which political parties submit the particulars of their candidates using access credentials issued for that purpose.

He added that the activities carried out in relation to the submission of candidates through the portal were electronically recorded and were capable of verification from the commission’s records and audit trail.

Oketola said it was therefore possible to establish objectively the history and source of entries relating to any candidate whose name appears on the portal.

“Accordingly, the allegation that officials of the commission introduced or “smuggled” candidates into the NDC’s list is not a matter that should be determined by speculation.

“The electronic and documentary records relating to the affected constituencies are capable of establishing the relevant facts.

“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,” he said.

Oketola said that INEC’s monitoring of a political party primary did not amount to nomination of a candidate by INEC.

He also added that a report made by officials who monitor a primary did not confer upon the commission the power to choose a candidate for the political party.

He explained that the monitoring process served the statutory purposes prescribed by law and did not transfer the party’s responsibility for nomination to the commission.

“Where questions arise as to the person 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,” he said.

Oketola, however, emphasised that INEC had no institutional interest in the choice of candidate made by any political party.

He stressed that INEC’s responsibility is to administer the electoral process impartially and in accordance with the Constitution, the Electoral Act and applicable Regulations and Guidelines.

“Political parties also have a corresponding responsibility to ensure that their nomination processes, internal appeals, submission of candidates and use of the commission’s candidate nomination portal are undertaken strictly in accordance with the law and within the prescribed timelines,” he said.

Oketola reiterated that INEC would continue to discharge its responsibilities transparently, impartially and in accordance with the rule of law.

“Where legitimate concerns are raised concerning the candidate nomination process, the commission will address them 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.(NAN)

Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani is to face 17 other candidates in the 2027 governorship election, following the publication of particulars of candidates by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The full list of the gubernatorial candidates and their running mates for Kaduna State was yet to be pasted at the INEC office in Kaduna as of Monday.

INEC had on Saturday begun the publication of the personal particulars and credentials of gubernatorial candidates nominated by political parties.

Available reports indicate that 18 political parties have fielded candidates for the Kaduna governorship election, with Sani seeking re-election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Some of the candidates whose names have so far been identified include Isa  Ashiru of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Bawa Usman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Muhammad Jamilu of Accord Party and Adamu Ahmed of the Action Alliance (AA).

Others are Tukur Rabiu of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Idris Adamu of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Aminu Abdulfatah of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), and Auwal Tafoki of the Labour Party (LP).

Sani is expected to run alongside Jerry Adams as his running mate.

Meanwhile, the complete identities of the remaining candidates and the deputy governorship candidates are still being awaited from the official INEC publication in Kaduna.

Public Relations Officer of INEC in Kaduna State, Ramatu Mohammad, said that the list had yet to be pasted at the commission’s office in Kaduna.

Mohammad appealed for patience, assuring that the publication would be carried out soon.

She said the public and journalists would have access to the details once the process was completed.

The development has heightened political activities in Kaduna, one of the key states expected to witness keen competition in the 2027 governorship election.

The publication of candidates’ particulars is part of the electoral process, allowing political parties, candidates and members of the public to scrutinise the information submitted to the electoral commission.

The full Kaduna list, particularly the identities of all deputy governorship candidates, is expected to provide a clearer picture of the emerging political alliances and calculations ahead of the elections.

From Yagana Ali, Yola

The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Adamawa State, Ambassador (Engr.) Omar Suleiman, popularly known as Omarana, has strongly condemned what he described as an alleged attempt to replace him as the party’s governorship candidate through the backdoor.

Omarana, who addressed journalists in Yola at the weekend, expressed outrage over the alleged role of former Vice President and national leader of the ADC, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in moves to recognise another aspirant, Modibbo Tukur Ribadu, as the party’s governorship candidate in Adamawa State.

He insisted that he remains the duly elected candidate of the party following the governorship primary election, warning that no political leader, regardless of influence or national standing, has the right to overturn the decision freely made by party members.

The controversy followed an alleged statement or post attributed to Atiku, which reportedly presented Ribadu—who Omarana said emerged second during the party’s governorship primary—as the ADC candidate for the 2027 governorship election in Adamawa State.

Omarana said he was particularly disturbed that Atiku, whom he described as a prominent political figure who has consistently projected himself as an advocate of democracy and popular participation, could be linked to what he termed an attempt to override the will of party members.

According to him, the development was not merely a disagreement over political ambition but a serious test of the credibility of the democratic process within the party.

The ADC candidate maintained that the governorship primary election in Adamawa State was conducted in the presence of party members and other stakeholders, with officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) supervising the process.

He said he emerged victorious at the end of the exercise, while Modibbo Tukur Ribadu came second, adding that his name was subsequently submitted to INEC as the party’s candidate in accordance with the outcome of the primary election.

Omarana stressed that a mandate freely given by party members through a recognised electoral process could not be withdrawn or transferred based on the preference of any powerful political figure.

In a move aimed at preventing what he described as an unlawful substitution, Suleiman disclosed that he had approached the Federal High Court to seek judicial protection over his candidature.

He said the legal action was intended to restrain INEC from accepting any purported attempt to replace his name with that of another aspirant pending the determination of the matter by the court.

According to him, the relevant court processes had already been served on INEC as well as the ADC at both the national and state levels.

He further claimed that the former Vice President had been formally informed about the pending legal action, insisting that all parties should therefore exercise restraint and allow the court to determine the issues before it.

Omarana warned that any attempt to alter the outcome of the primary election before the conclusion of the legal process would amount to a disregard for due process and an assault on the democratic rights of the party’s members.

He called for the immediate withdrawal of the alleged post presenting Ribadu as the ADC governorship candidate, urging the party’s national leadership and other influential political actors to avoid actions capable of further escalating the controversy.

The former diplomat and engineer said the unfolding controversy had raised fundamental questions about internal democracy and the extent to which the decisions of ordinary party members are respected within political parties.

He argued that leadership must be founded on fairness, restraint and respect for established rules, particularly by political leaders who present themselves as champions of democratic governance.

According to him, the governorship ticket of the ADC is not a personal property that can be allocated at the discretion of influential politicians or political godfathers.

Omarana appealed to members and supporters of the ADC across Adamawa State to remain calm and vigilant, assuring them that he would continue to pursue the matter through lawful and democratic means.

He expressed confidence that the rule of law would prevail, insisting that the outcome of a properly conducted primary election must be respected.

Suleiman added that the controversy had placed a major responsibility before the leadership of the ADC, questioning whether the party would uphold the verdict of its members or allow political influence and personal preference to override the collective will expressed at the primary election.

As the dispute continues, Omarana said his focus remains firmly on defending what he described as the mandate freely entrusted to him by members of the African Democratic Congress in Adamawa State.