The Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate for the 2027 election, Adewale Adebayo, has insisted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has no constitutional responsibility to verify the credentials of candidates submitted by political parties, saying its duty is limited to publishing their names and particulars.
Speaking during an interview, Adebayo said the electoral commission serves as an administrative institution whose responsibility is to receive nominations from political parties and make the information available to Nigerians.
According to him, many people wrongly assume that INEC is expected to investigate or authenticate the qualifications of every candidate before placing their names on the ballot.
He explained that the Commission merely performs the role assigned to it by law by accepting documents submitted by political parties and publishing them for public scrutiny.
Adebayo argued that once candidates’ names and credentials are made public, it becomes the responsibility of Nigerians, political opponents, civil society organisations and other interested stakeholders to examine the information and raise any concerns through the appropriate legal channels.
He maintained that questions relating to false declarations, forged certificates or constitutional eligibility are matters that should be decided by the courts rather than by the electoral commission.
The SDP flagbearer likened INEC’s role to that of a public institution responsible for receiving and disseminating information, insisting that the Commission should not be expected to perform investigative duties that are outside its constitutional mandate.
He stressed that the electoral body exists to conduct elections and provide transparency by publishing candidates’ details, allowing citizens to assess those seeking public office before casting their votes.
According to Adebayo, democracy functions better when the electorate actively scrutinises candidates instead of relying solely on government institutions to determine who is qualified.
He said Nigerians should carefully examine the information published by INEC and pursue legal remedies whenever they believe a candidate has submitted false information or failed to meet constitutional requirements.
Commenting on reports of disagreements within the Social Democratic Party over its presidential ticket, Adebayo dismissed suggestions that the Party was facing an internal crisis.
He described the SDP’s nomination process as peaceful, transparent and consistent with the Party’s constitution.
According to him, the publication of his name by INEC should not be interpreted as evidence of controversy because the Commission routinely publishes the names submitted by political parties after completing their nomination processes.
He noted that INEC also published the name of the Party’s vice-presidential candidate alongside those of 109 senatorial candidates and 360 House of Representatives candidates nominated by the SDP.
Adebayo said the release of the names was simply part of the Commission’s normal administrative responsibilities and reflected the successful submission of candidates for the 2027 elections.
He urged Nigerians to pay greater attention to the real issues confronting the country instead of becoming distracted by political speculation and internal party disputes.
According to him, the nation should focus on finding lasting solutions to poverty, insecurity, unemployment, inflation, weak governance and other socio-economic challenges affecting millions of citizens.
He argued that political campaigns should revolve around practical ideas capable of improving the lives of Nigerians rather than controversies that offer little benefit to the electorate.
As preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections, debates over the responsibilities of INEC and the qualifications of candidates are expected to remain prominent across the country’s political landscape.
Nigeria’s electoral laws place the responsibility for nominating candidates on political parties, while disputes concerning eligibility or alleged false declarations are generally resolved through the judicial process.
The publication of candidates’ particulars by INEC provides members of the public and rival political parties the opportunity to scrutinise the information and seek legal redress where necessary.
With political parties gradually unveiling their candidates ahead of the next general election, Adebayo’s remarks have added to the growing national discussion on electoral transparency, constitutional responsibilities and democratic accountability.
He maintained that Nigerians should use lawful processes to challenge questionable claims made by candidates while allowing INEC to continue performing its statutory duty of receiving nominations and publishing candidates’ names for public knowledge.