The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has raised the alarm over what it described as the illegal substitution of candidates nominated by the party for the 2027 general elections, accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of publishing names that did not emerge from the party’s nomination process.
The allegation was contained in a statement issued on Sunday, August 30, 2026, by the NDC National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, following INEC’s publication of candidates for the State Houses of Assembly elections.
According to the party, the alleged irregularities are particularly pronounced in Anambra State, where it said 10 names published by INEC as NDC candidates were unknown to the party and did not emerge from its duly conducted nomination process.
The NDC specifically listed the affected constituencies and names as:
Onitsha South 1 — Umennaajiego Jude Ezenwa
Onitsha South 2 — Akpotue Obinna Chibuike
Orumba North — Nwankwo Chiemerie
Anaocha 1 — Maduagwu Eric K
Idemili North — Ngoebisi Obinna
Njikoka 1 — Isintume Charles
Nnewi South — Nwachukwu Nonso
Nnewi South 2 — Okeke Ifeanyi Akunne
Ayamelum — Nnonyelu Samson E.
Dunukofia — Azotani Chuks Francis.
The development comes amid growing controversy over candidate nominations within the opposition party. Earlier this month, politician Pratt Tunde approached the Federal High Court in Lagos, alleging that his name was secretly removed as the NDC candidate for Lagos Mainland Federal Constituency and replaced with another name.
There have also been separate disputes over NDC nominations in Imo North and Kaduna, highlighting the legal and political tensions surrounding candidate selection ahead of the 2027 election.
The latest allegation, however, places the spotlight directly on the relationship between political parties and INEC’s candidate-upload process, with the NDC demanding clarification over how individuals it says never emerged from its nomination process could appear on the Commission’s published list.
This is now shaping into a major electoral integrity controversy ahead of the 2027 general elections. If the NDC’s allegations are substantiated, the party could seek administrative and judicial remedies to have the disputed names removed and its duly nominated candidates restored.
*The allegations are those of the NDC; INEC’s response should be sought and included before treating the substitutions as established fact.*
