The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has changed the logo displayed for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) on its official portal, with the commission now reflecting the party’s blue-background “Two Fingers Up” logo ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The development follows a recent judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja delivered by Justice J. O. Abdulmalik, which directed INEC to upload and use the modified logo adopted by the party.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the change brings a fresh development to the dispute between the NDC and INEC over the logo to be used by the party and its candidates.
We reported in September that the NDC had directed its candidates, members and supporters to immediately adopt the modified logo after the court ordered INEC to upload and utilise the new design.
The party’s leader, Seriake Dickson, announced the court decision in a statement posted on X, saying the NDC had taken legal action after efforts to resolve the disagreement with INEC administratively failed.
Dickson explained that the modified logo was approved at the party’s first National Executive Council meeting and subsequently submitted to INEC. According to him, the commission initially uploaded the new design before removing it and reverting to the old logo under which the association was originally registered.
“The party had, at our first NEC meeting, approved and forwarded our modified logo to INEC, which subsequently uploaded it,” Dickson said.
“However, without any reason communicated to us, INEC later removed the modified logo and insisted on using the old logo of the association, a position we disagreed with.”
The NDC leader said the party gave INEC sufficient opportunity to resolve the matter but eventually approached the court after no corrective action was taken.
Dickson welcomed the judgment, describing it as a vindication of the party’s position and commending the judiciary for intervening in the dispute.
“We therefore commend the judiciary for its timely intervention and welcome the judgment directing INEC to forthwith upload and utilise our modified digital logo,” he said.
Following the judgment, Dickson instructed all NDC candidates and members to stop using the old logo for party and campaign activities and begin using the modified version approved in the party’s constitution.
“We urge all candidates and party members to forthwith adopt and utilise the approved logo in all campaign materials, including banners, posters and other publicity materials,” he said.
The latest development comes after the NDC had earlier asked its members to continue using the old logo while discussions with INEC over the proposed change were still ongoing.
In August, the party said it was working with INEC to replace its existing logo with a modified version, explaining that the process was being delayed by administrative procedures.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, had said the proposed modification was communicated to INEC following consultations involving officials of the commission and the party.
“The NDC, in consultation with INEC, have also modified our logo and notified INEC appropriately, at a meeting INEC themselves attended with us,” Director said at the time.
He subsequently directed candidates and members to retain the existing two-finger victory-sign logo until the engagement with INEC was concluded.
“Until then, however, we enjoin all our candidates and members to continue using the old logo, which is also the two-finger victory sign, for campaign purposes, pending the conclusion of all engagements and arrangements with INEC regarding the replacement,” he said.
The NDC’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and vice-presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, are among the party’s major candidates expected to lead its campaign activities ahead of the 2027 elections, alongside its governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly candidates.
