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The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has renewed its challenge to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the publication of 10 candidates listed as its flagbearers for various Anambra State House of Assembly constituencies ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The party insisted that it did not submit the names or completed EC9E forms of the 10 candidates published by the electoral commission, and demanded an electronic audit of INEC’s candidate nomination portal to establish how their details got there.

The NDC Director of New Media and Strategic Communications, Agada Abuh Theophilus, made the fresh demand in a statement on Wednesday.

The latest development followed an earlier accusation by the party that INEC had unlawfully replaced some of its candidates.

The NDC had alleged that the commission uploaded 10 names that were not authorised by the party as its candidates for various constituencies in the Anambra State House of Assembly.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the party’s National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, said the individuals listed by INEC were unknown to the party and did not emerge from its internal nomination and appeal processes.

INEC, however, rejected the allegation.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, described claims that the commission independently uploaded or altered candidates’ information as “unfounded and untrue.”

Despite INEC’s denial, the NDC has maintained its position, challenging the commission to explain how it obtained the nomination documents of the 10 candidates if the party did not submit them.

“The Nigeria Democratic Congress did not submit the EC9E forms of the 10 published Anambra candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

“The Commission should explain to the general public how it obtained the EC9E forms for these 10 candidates when the party did not submit any of them in the first place.

“The process is simple: the party submits, and INEC approves,” Theophilus said.

The NDC spokesperson further claimed that the candidates submitted by the party through its appeal process were rejected by INEC, raising questions over how the names eventually published on the commission’s portal emerged.

He alleged that the 10 candidates were inserted into the portal without the party’s authorisation.

The party therefore challenged INEC to conduct an electronic audit trail of its nomination portal to determine when, how and by whom the disputed candidates’ details were uploaded.

“The party submitted the names of the 10 candidates from the appeal process on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal, but the Commission rejected those approved candidates.

“Since the NDC neither collected nor submitted the completed EC9E forms of the 10 Anambra candidates published by INEC, how did the Commission obtain their credentials when it is the party’s legal duty to submit the names of its approved candidates?

“We call on the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct an electronic audit trail to determine how these 10 candidates were smuggled into its portal through the backend,” the statement said.

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Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, launched a blistering attack on his longtime political adversary and former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, declaring that anyone who once shut down courts is fundamentally unfit to serve as Nigeria’s Vice President.

Speaking on Wednesday during his monthly media chat in Port Harcourt, the former Rivers State governor spared no words as he took aim at both Amaechi and the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

Addressing journalists, Wike urged Nigerians to critically examine the past actions of political figures claiming to champion democracy and the rule of law before trusting them with high office.

“Rotimi Amaechi, who wants to be Vice President today, once shut down the courts in Rivers State and caused a pregnant woman to give birth in prison,” Wike said.

The minister argued that such precedents should automatically disqualify political aspirants from occupying sensitive executive positions, emphasizing that a track record of undermining the judiciary cannot be brushed aside.

Wike further broadened his critique to target the NBA, accusing the legal body of abandoning its historic role as an impartial defender of justice and constitutionalism in favor of partisan politics.

“The Nigerian Bar Association has now taken sides politically. They are now a political party,” Wike declared.

He maintained that the association ought to remain an independent institution dedicated to upholding the rule of law, rather than serving as an arena for political contests or offering platforms that amount to partisan endorsements.

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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr Nyesom Wike, has declared that he will not remain passive and allow former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to win the 2027 presidential election, as political activities begin to gather momentum ahead of the polls.

Wike, who spoke on Wednesday during his monthly media parley in PortHacouct , Rivers State, also dismissed reports that he was planning to relocate to Rivers State, saying his frequent visits to the state were part of efforts to remain politically engaged with his people.

“You want me to fold my hand for Atiku Abubakar to come and win the election?” Wike asked.

The minister said he had no intention of abandoning his responsibilities in Abuja but would continue to maintain close contact with political developments in Rivers State.

“It’s not about relocating; it’s about coming home to relate with the people and talk to them, and also do those things you know how to do very well, not to take chances,” he said.

“So, I’m not relocating. I don’t need to relocate, but I also have to be in touch with my people so that I don’t just sit in Abuja and then say that everything is going on there well.”

According to him, he would not rely solely on assurances from political associates that all was well in Rivers State, particularly as the 2027 general election approaches.

“I don’t want to sit in Abuja and candidates are saying, ‘Oh, don’t bother, everything is going on well’. I have to come home and see that all those things are going on. ‘Have you done this? What about this?’” Wike said.

He stressed that the period had become politically significant and required active engagement, insisting that his presence in Rivers State should not be interpreted as a plan to relocate from the nation’s capital.

Wike added that his parents were still alive and that he had strong personal and political ties to his home state, making regular visits necessary as preparations for the 2027 elections intensify.