INEC DENIES INSERTING OR REPLACING NDC CANDIDATES

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, says its records show that the disputed NDC candidates were listed on Form EC9E submitted to the commission and signed by the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary.

INEC made the clarification on Tuesday in a statement by the Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, following questions over how the names appeared on the commission’s portal.

The commission said it would rely on its electronic and documentary records to establish the history and source of any candidate whose name appears on the portal.

INEC stressed that nomination of candidates is the responsibility of political parties and that it has no legal authority to select, insert or substitute candidates for any party.

It explained that although it monitors party primaries as part of its statutory duties, the process does not give it the power to choose or impose candidates on political parties.

INEC added that ahead of the 2027 general elections, all 22 registered political parties designated two trained officers to handle their nominations, while portal access codes were issued directly to the National Chairmen of the parties.