“INEC restores NDC nomination portal access” — Dickson

The Independent National Electoral Commission has restored the Nigeria Democratic Congress’ access to its candidate nomination portal, allowing the party to upload candidates’ details despite an ongoing legal dispute over the party’s status.

The development was disclosed on Tuesday by Seriake Dickson in a post on his X account.

According to Mr Dickson, the restoration followed the filing of a notice of appeal and an application for stay of execution against last week’s judgment of the Federal High Court in Lokoja.

He stated that the appeal and accompanying applications had been served on INEC alongside a covering letter urging the commission to act in accordance with legal provisions.

Mr Dickson maintained that the NDC remains a duly registered political party and said it had validly conducted its primaries under INEC’s supervision.

He said, “Today, the NDC has filed an appeal against the ruling as well as a stay of execution/injunction, which has been served with a covering letter to the INEC chairman and his team to do what is right according to law and what is legally sensible.

“The Nigeria Democratic Congress has come to stay and remains a duly registered party in Nigeria which has participated in all the political processes so far.

“Nomination processes have already been concluded and, in the eyes of the law, candidates have already emerged from the party for all offices across the country in primaries observed, monitored and recorded by INEC.

“What is left is the administrative process of submitting the names to INEC, and we have been granted access to the portal to upload our qualified candidates.”

He further disclosed that his details and that of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, had already been uploaded to the commission’s portal.

“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,” he said.

Timeline for submissions

Mr Dickson urged party members to remain calm, noting that there was still time to complete candidate submissions within INEC’s electoral timetable.

“In accordance with the INEC timetable, which we have religiously abided by, we have between now and the 11th of next month to upload all National Assembly candidates, while those of governors and State Houses of Assembly will end on the 17th of July.

“So there is enough time for all candidates’ names to be submitted to INEC and there is no reason for anyone to panic,” he added.

Reconciliation efforts

The former governor also appealed to aspirants who did not secure party tickets to remain committed to the party, stating that reconciliation efforts had already commenced.

“The reconciliation processes have started and we expect them to reach everyone. We assure them that all those who expressed interest will be carried along in the party’s campaigns, committees and structures because they constitute the grassroots strength and the backbone of our party,” he said.

Mr Dickson also commended INEC and thanked its chairman, Joash Amupitan, for what he described as professionalism, while expressing confidence that the judiciary would determine the matter in line with the law.

The development comes days after the NDC challenged the Federal High Court ruling that created uncertainty over the party’s registration status, insisting the judgment neither dissolved nor deregistered the party.