The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has restored the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC)’s access to its candidate nomination portal, allowing the party to upload the names of its National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, and presidential candidate, Peter Obi, despite an ongoing legal battle over the party’s status.
Senator Dickson disclosed the development in a post shared on his X account on Tuesday, describing the restoration of access as a positive step following the party’s notice of appeal and application for a stay of execution against last week’s Federal High Court judgment in Lokoja.
“The NDC remains a duly registered political party. We have filed our appeal and served the commission, urging INEC to act according to the law and what is legally sensible.
“The Nigeria Democratic Congress has come to stay. Everyone who showed interest will be carried along in our campaigns, committees and structures because they are the backbone of the party,” he stated.
According to the former Bayelsa State governor, the NDC had already concluded its primary elections under INEC’s supervision, noting that the remaining process was the administrative submission of candidates’ names.
He confirmed that both his name and Peter Obi’s had been successfully uploaded to the commission’s nomination portal, adding that the upload of other candidates would continue in line with the electoral timetable.
Dickson also urged party members to remain calm, insisting there was sufficient time to complete the nomination process.
The development comes as the NDC maintains that the Federal High Court judgment neither dissolved nor deregistered the party and insists the matter will ultimately be decided through the appeal process.
