The National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Senator Seriake Dickson, has announced that the party has uploaded the name of its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to the Independent National Electoral Commission nomination portal.
Dickson disclosed this in a statement on Monday while updating party members and supporters on steps being taken by the NDC following a recent court ruling affecting the party’s registration status.
He said the party had filed an appeal against the judgment, alongside an application for stay of execution, adding that the processes had been served on the INEC Chairman and the commission.
According to him, the party has also been granted access to the INEC portal to upload the names of its candidates in line with the electoral timetable.
“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,” Dickson said.
The development comes amid legal and political controversy over the status of the NDC, following a Federal High Court ruling which set aside an earlier order directing INEC to register the party.
The NDC, however, insisted that it remains a duly registered political party and that it has participated in all political processes required under the law.
The party maintained that its primary elections were conducted under the observation and monitoring of INEC, and that candidates had emerged for various elective positions.
Dickson said what remained was the administrative process of submitting the names and particulars of the candidates to the electoral commission through the official nomination portal.
He noted that, in line with the INEC timetable, the party still has until July 11 to upload the names of its National Assembly candidates, while the deadline for governorship and State House of Assembly candidates is July 17.
The NDC National Leader urged members and supporters not to panic, saying there was sufficient time for the party to complete the nomination process.
He said the party had taken lawful steps to challenge the court ruling and expressed confidence that the judiciary would determine the matter in accordance with the law.
Dickson also acknowledged that disagreements arose during the party’s primary elections but said reconciliation efforts had commenced to unite aspirants, candidates and stakeholders across the country.
He assured unsuccessful aspirants that they would not be abandoned, describing them as the grassroots strength of the party.
According to him, those who did not secure tickets would be accommodated in campaign structures, committees and other party activities as the NDC prepares for the general elections.
Dickson congratulated all candidates of the party and commended members and supporters for what he described as their resilience and commitment to the protection of Nigeria’s multi-party democracy.
He also commended INEC for what he described as professionalism in handling the party’s registration and other electoral processes, while urging the commission, the judiciary and security agencies to remain neutral and protect democratic institutions.
The party said that with the appeal and accompanying applications now before the courts, it expects all parties to allow the legal process to run its course.
The development follows INEC’s earlier announcement that official access codes would be issued to political parties to enable authorised national officers upload the names, personal particulars and other required details of nominated candidates through the commission’s Candidate Nomination Portal.
The NDC said it would continue with the submission of candidates’ names while pursuing its legal remedies over the judgment affecting its registration.
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