NDC appeals court ruling voiding registration as INEC restores portal for candidate uploads

NDC appeals court ruling voiding registration as INEC restores portal for candidate uploads

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has appealed the Federal High Court judgment that nullified its registration as a political party, while confirming that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has restored the party’s access to its candidate nomination portal.

The development allows the party to continue uploading the names of its candidates for the 2027 general elections pending the determination of its appeal.

National leader of the NDC, Seriake Dickson, announced the decision in a statement shared on his X account on Monday, saying the party had filed a notice of appeal alongside an application for a stay of execution of the Lokoja court judgment.

According to Dickson, the appeal and accompanying applications have been served on INEC with a request for the electoral commission to act in accordance with the law while the legal process continues.

He expressed confidence that the Court of Appeal would overturn the lower court’s decision and reaffirm the party’s registration.

Dickson disclosed that INEC has restored the NDC’s access to its online portal for candidate nominations, enabling the party to proceed with the submission of names in line with the commission’s timetable.

He revealed that his name and that of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, had already been uploaded to the INEC portal, while the vice-presidential candidate’s details would be uploaded after the completion of the required documentation.

The former Bayelsa State governor added that the party had also begun uploading the names of candidates contesting the National Assembly, governorship and State House of Assembly elections.

He assured members and supporters that there was no cause for concern, noting that the NDC remained within the deadlines set by INEC for candidate submissions.

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According to him, political parties have until July 11 to submit the names of candidates for the National Assembly elections, while governorship and State House of Assembly candidates must be uploaded by July 17.

Dickson also addressed concerns arising from the party’s primary elections, acknowledging that the exercises were not without challenges.

He said reconciliation efforts had already begun to unite aggrieved aspirants and members, assuring them that everyone who participated in the primaries would be integrated into the party’s campaign structures, committees and other political activities.

The NDC leader thanked Nigerians for their continued support and urged INEC, the judiciary and security agencies to remain impartial in carrying out their constitutional responsibilities.

He said that with the appeal and related applications now before the courts, the judiciary had the responsibility to determine the dispute in accordance with the law.

The latest legal battle follows a ruling by the Federal High Court in Lokoja, presided over by Justice Isah Dashen, which set aside its earlier judgment of December 10, 2025, directing INEC to register the NDC as a political party.

Justice Dashen held that the earlier judgment was constitutionally defective because all necessary parties were not heard before the decision was delivered.

The court agreed with the Peace Movement Party (PMP) that it had a legal interest in the matter and ought to have been joined in the proceedings before the judgment compelling INEC to register the NDC was delivered.

The judge further ruled that material facts had not been fully disclosed during the earlier proceedings and ordered that the substantive suit should commence afresh with INEC, the NDC and the PMP joined as parties.

Despite the legal setback, Dickson maintained that the NDC complied with all constitutional and statutory requirements for registration and expressed optimism that the Court of Appeal would overturn the lower court’s ruling.

The registration dispute has become one of the most closely watched political cases ahead of the 2027 general elections, as the outcome could shape the participation of the NDC and its candidates in the electoral process.

NDC appeals court ruling voiding registration as INEC restores portal for candidate uploads