NDC Speaks on Missing Deputy Gov Candidate’s Name on INEC Portal

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has dismissed reports claiming that the name of its Rivers State Deputy Governorship Candidate, Dr. Mike Barieenee Nwielaghi, was missing from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal.

Politics Nigeria reports the party outright described such reports as false and misleading.

Its Rivers State Media Directorate, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Thursday, insisted that Nwielaghi’s name had been successfully uploaded by INEC and that he remained the party’s duly presented and recognised running mate in the state’s governorship election.

“We state unequivocally that this narrative is false and misleading. The name of our deputy governorship candidate was successfully uploaded by INEC,” the directorate said.

The party maintained that Nwielaghi’s details were submitted to the electoral commission through the appropriate process, urging the public, its supporters and media organisations to disregard reports suggesting otherwise.

It further called for greater caution in the dissemination of electoral information, particularly on social media, stressing that political discourse should be driven by verified facts rather than speculation or misinformation.

“Dr. Mike Nwielaghi remains the duly presented and recognised Deputy Governorship Candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress in Rivers State,” the statement added.

The NDC also urged journalists and members of the public to verify information from official sources before publishing or sharing claims capable of creating confusion among voters.

The clarification comes amid a separate dispute between the party and INEC over the publication of candidates for the 2027 Anambra State House of Assembly elections.

On Wednesday, the NDC renewed its allegation that INEC had replaced 10 candidates submitted by the party with names it described as unfamiliar, demanding an electronic audit of the commission’s candidate-management system.

The party’s Director of New Media and Strategic Communications, Agada Theophilus, alleged that the NDC did not submit the EC9E forms of the 10 candidates published by INEC and questioned how the commission obtained their credentials.

The controversy began after NDC National Chairman, Moses Zuwoghe, alleged that 10 names published by INEC for constituencies across Anambra State were not candidates approved by the party.

The disputed names include Umennaajiego Jude Ezenwa for Onitsha South I, Akpotue Obinna Chibuike for Onitsha South II, Nwankwo Chiemerie for Orumba North, Maduagwu Eric K for Anaocha I and Ngoebisi Obinna for Idemili North.

Others are Isintume Charles for Njikoka I, Nwachukwu Nonso for Nnewi South, Okeke Ifeanyi Akunne for Nnewi South II, Nnonyelu Samson E for Ayamelum and Azotani Chuks Francis for Dunukofia.

INEC, however, rejected the allegation, maintaining that it does not nominate candidates for political parties.

Adedayo Oketola, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, said candidate nomination was the responsibility of political parties, subject to the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026 and other relevant laws, regulations and guidelines.

The NDC has nevertheless challenged the commission to explain the origin of the documents and credentials associated with the disputed Anambra candidates.

According to Theophilus, the party submitted candidates who emerged through its internal appeal process but alleged that INEC rejected those candidates before the disputed names appeared on its portal.

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

He argued that the development warranted a technical examination of INEC’s electronic platform to establish when, how and by whom the names allegedly entered the commission’s database.

The party consequently called on INEC to conduct an electronic audit trail of its candidate-management system, particularly the backend, to determine how the 10 disputed names were allegedly uploaded.

“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,” Theophilus said.