NDC demands audit of INEC portal over 10 disowned Anambra candidates

The Nigeria Democratic Congress says 10 candidates published by the Independent National Electoral Commission for the 2027 Anambra State House of Assembly elections have nothing to do with its nomination process. The party says it neither nominated the individuals nor submitted their Form EC9E documents.

The NDC’s director of new media and strategic communications, Theophilus Agada, called for an immediate electronic audit of INEC’s nomination portal. He said the party uploaded only candidates who emerged from its appeal process, but INEC rejected those names and published people unknown to the party instead.

The disowned candidates include Umennaajiego Ezenwa for Onitsha South 1, Akpotue Chibuike for Onitsha South II, Nwankwo Chiemerie for Orumba North, Maduagwu Eric K. for Anaocha I, Ngoebisi Obinna for Idemili North and Isintume Charles for Njikoka I. The list also includes candidates for Nnewi South I and II, Ayamelum and Dunukofia.

“

The 10 names published by INEC neither emerged from the party’s nomination process nor its appeal process.

Agada said parties have the legal responsibility to submit the names and credentials of their candidates before INEC processes and publishes them. He questioned how the commission obtained credentials for the 10 people when the NDC did not collect or forward completed EC9E forms for them.

The party had already threatened legal action, alleging that INEC replaced its nominees with “strange names” in several constituencies. National chairman Moses Cleopas previously said the party viewed the Anambra listings as part of a broader pattern that could create confusion and internal divisions among opposition parties before the 2027 general elections.

“

How did the commission obtain their credentials when it is the party’s legal duty to submit the names of its approved candidates?