Exclusion of Candidates From INEC List: CD Cautions Electoral Body Against Manipulation By Politicians
. Demands untainted integrity ahead of 2027 elections A leading pro-democracy group in Nigeria, the Campaign for Democracy (CD) has raised concerns over the omission of some political parties’ candidates
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is constitutionally mandated to compile and publish the list of candidates nominated by political parties for elective offices ahead of each general election. This process has historically been a flashpoint in Nigerian politics, with parties and aspirants frequently approaching courts or petitioning INEC over alleged omissions, substitutions, or exclusions from the final list — disputes that have, in past cycles, led to court-ordered reinstatements close to election dates and accusations that the commission bowed to pressure from dominant political interests.
The Campaign for Democracy (CD), a civil society organisation with a long history of advocating for electoral transparency, is weighing in on the latest round of complaints over candidates left off INEC's list ahead of the 2027 general elections. Its intervention reflects broader public concern about whether INEC can maintain independence from political manipulation as parties jostle for advantage early in the election cycle. The coverage across outlets is consistent in reporting CD's warning to INEC, though details such as which parties or candidates were excluded, and INEC's response to the allegations, have not yet been specified.