The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has restored the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC)’s access to its candidate nomination portal, enabling the party to upload the names of its National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, and presidential candidate, Peter Obi, despite the ongoing legal dispute surrounding the party’s status.
Senator Dickson disclosed the development in a statement shared on his X account on Tuesday.
He described the restoration of portal access as a significant development following the party’s decision to challenge last week’s judgment of the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja.
According to him, the NDC has already filed a notice of appeal alongside an application for a stay of execution of the judgment and has formally served the electoral commission with the necessary court documents.
Dickson explained that the documents were accompanied by a letter urging INEC to act in accordance with the law while the appeal remains pending.
He maintained that the Nigeria Democratic Congress remains a legally registered political party and has validly conducted its primary elections under the supervision of the electoral commission.
“Today, the NDC has filed an appeal against the ruling as well as a stay of execution/injunction, which has been served with a covering letter to the INEC chairman and his team to do what is right according to law and what is legally sensible.
“The Nigeria Democratic Congress has come to stay and remains a duly registered party in Nigeria which has participated in all the political processes so far.
“Nomination processes have already been concluded and, in the eyes of the law, candidates have already emerged from the party for all offices across the country in primaries observed, monitored and recorded by INEC.
“What is left is the administrative process of submitting the names to INEC, and we have been granted access to the portal to upload our qualified candidates,” he said.
Dickson further revealed that both his name and that of Peter Obi have already been successfully uploaded to the commission’s portal.
He added that the party’s vice-presidential candidate would also be uploaded once the remaining documentation is completed.
“My name and that of the presidential candidate have been uploaded to the INEC portal, while that of the vice presidential candidate will be done tomorrow upon completion of the deposition. The process is also ongoing for other candidates,” he stated.
The former Bayelsa State governor urged members of the party to remain calm, stressing that there is still adequate time within INEC’s official timetable to complete the nomination process for all candidates.
“In accordance with the INEC timetable, which we have religiously abided by, we have between now and the 11th of next month to upload all National Assembly candidates, while those of governors and State Houses of Assembly will end on the 17th of July.
“So there is enough time for all candidates’ names to be submitted to INEC and there is no reason for anyone to panic,” he added.
Dickson also appealed to aspirants who did not emerge victorious during the party’s primaries to remain committed to the NDC, noting that reconciliation efforts are already underway.
He assured them that every stakeholder would be given opportunities to contribute to the party’s campaign and organisational activities.
“The reconciliation processes have started and we expect them to reach everyone. We assure them that all those who expressed interest will be carried along in the party’s campaigns, committees and structures because they constitute the grassroots strength and the backbone of our party,” he said.
The senator expressed appreciation to INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, for what he described as the commission’s professionalism throughout the process.
He also expressed confidence that the judiciary would fairly determine the appeal based on the provisions of the law.
“We thank INEC, led by Professor Joash Amupitan, for their professionalism so far, and we expect them to continue on this path.
“Having filed and served our appeal and the accompanying applications, the ball is now in the court of the judiciary, and we expect the judiciary to do what is right under the law,” he said.
The latest development follows the NDC’s decision to challenge the Federal High Court judgment that created uncertainty over the party’s registration.
The party has consistently maintained that the court ruling neither dissolved nor deregistered it and insists it remains a legally recognised political party pending the outcome of its appeal.
