INEC challenges NDC to provide evidence of “smuggled” candidates in Anambra

Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State is to face 17 other candidates in the 2027 governorship election, following the publication of particulars of candidates by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. The full list of the gubernatorial candidates and their running mates for Kaduna State was yet to be pasted at the INEC office in Kaduna as of Monday. INEC had on Saturday begun the publication of the personal particulars and credentials of gubernatorial candidates nominated by political parties.

Available reports indicate that 18 political parties have fielded candidates for the Kaduna governorship election, with Sani seeking re-election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Some of the candidates whose names have so far been identified include Isa Ashiru of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Bawa Usman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Muhammad Jamilu of Accord Party and Adamu Ahmed of the Action Alliance (AA). Others are Tukur Rabiu of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Idris Adamu of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Aminu Abdulfatah of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), and Auwal Tafoki of the Labour Party (LP).

Sani is expected to run alongside Jerry Adams as his running mate. Meanwhile, the complete identities of the remaining candidates and the deputy governorship candidates are still being awaited from the official INEC publication in Kaduna. Mrs Ramatu Mohammad, Public Relations Officer of INEC in Kaduna State, told NAN that the list had yet to be pasted at the commission’s office in Kaduna.

Mohammad appealed for patience, assuring that the publication would be carried out soon. She said the public and journalists would have access to the details once the process was completed. The development has heightened political activities in Kaduna, one of the key states expected to witness keen competition in the 2027 governorship election.

NAN reports that the publication of candidates’ particulars is part of the electoral process, allowing political parties, candidates and members of the public to scrutinise the information submitted to the electoral commission. The full Kaduna list, particularly the identities of all deputy governorship candidates, is expected to provide a clearer picture of the emerging political alliances and calculations ahead of the elections. Vanguard News The post Uba Sani faces 17 chal…

By Omeiza Ajayi ABUJA: The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has challenged the Nigeria Democratic Congress NDC to provide evidence of officials allegedly involved in smuggling unknown candidates into the party’s list for some State House of Assembly constituencies in Anambra State, ahead of the 2027 General Election. Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, Dayo Oketola, in a chat with our correspondent on Monday, said the Commission would only act on the allegations if the NDC could substantiate them with credible evidence and the particulars of the officials involved, noting that its position was not to make speculative claims about matters capable of objective verification.