In a statement issued on Tuesday, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, Chairman of INEC's Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), characterized the allegations as "unfounded." He emphasized that the responsibility for nominating candidates lies solely with the political parties, not INEC.
“Candidate nomination is, by law, the exclusive responsibility of political parties. INEC has no legal authority to select, insert, or substitute any candidate,” the statement clarified.
INEC explained that its role is limited to overseeing party primaries, ensuring compliance with electoral laws, but it does not involve itself in candidate selection.
All 22 registered political parties for the 2027 elections appointed two trained officers to manage their nomination processes. This training was facilitated by INEC, which subsequently issued access codes for the nomination portal directly to the national chairmen of each party.
“The portal access codes were issued directly and in person to each party’s National Chairman, and not by proxy,” INEC stressed.
The commission asserted that candidate lists were generated from submissions made by the parties, with each list duly signed by the respective national chairmen and secretaries via the relevant Form EC9 series.
INEC categorically denied any involvement in independently uploading or altering the information submitted by the NDC.
“In fact, we possess Form EC9E, which lists these candidates as submitted to the Commission, signed by the party's National Chairman and National Secretary,” it noted.
The commission assured all stakeholders of its commitment to transparency and accountability in the electoral process.
“It remains dedicated to providing a level playing field for all political entities involved,” the statement concluded.
As tensions rise ahead of the elections, INEC's reaffirmation of its role seeks to quell concerns regarding the integrity of the candidate nomination process.
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