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.
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.
He said the appeal and accompanying applications had been served on INEC with a covering letter urging the commission to act in accordance with the law.
According to Dickson, the NDC remains a duly registered political party and successfully conducted its primaries under INEC’s supervision.
He explained that the party had completed its nomination processes and only needed to submit the names of its candidates through the commission’s portal. He confirmed that his name and Peter Obi’s name had already been uploaded, while the process for other candidates was ongoing.
Dickson also urged party members not to panic, noting that there was enough time to complete the nomination process within INEC’s timetable.
He further appealed to unsuccessful aspirants to support the party, adding that reconciliation efforts had started and everyone would be carried along in the party’s structures and campaigns.
The former Bayelsa State governor thanked INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, for what he described as the commission’s professionalism and urged the judiciary to determine the appeal according to the law.
The development comes days after the NDC challenged the Federal High Court judgment that created uncertainty over the party’s status, insisting that the ruling neither dissolved nor deregistered the party.p;
