The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has restored the Nigeria Democratic Congress’ (NDC) access to its candidate nomination portal, allowing the party to upload the names of its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, despite the ongoing legal challenge surrounding the party’s registration.

 

Dickson disclosed the development in a statement shared via his official X account on Tuesday, describing the move as a significant step following the party’s decision to appeal last week’s judgment of the Federal High Court in Lokoja.

 

According to him, the NDC has already filed a notice of appeal alongside an application for a stay of execution of the judgment and served the relevant court documents on INEC with a formal request for the commission to act in line with the law.

 

“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,” Dickson stated.

 

He maintained that the NDC remains a legally registered political party and has validly concluded its primary elections under the supervision of INEC.

 

“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 said.

 

Dickson further disclosed that both his name and that of Peter Obi had already been successfully uploaded to the commission’s portal, while the vice-presidential candidate’s details would be submitted after the completion of necessary documentation.

 

“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 added.

 

He urged party members and supporters not to panic, assuring them that there was sufficient time to complete the submission of candidates in line with INEC’s 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 said.

 

The former Bayelsa State governor also appealed to aspirants who were unsuccessful during the party’s primaries to remain committed to the party, disclosing that reconciliation efforts were already underway.

 

“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 stated.

 

Dickson commended the INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, and the commission for what he described as their professionalism in handling the matter.

 

“We thank INEC, led by Professor Joash Amupitan, for their professionalism so far, and we expect them to continue on this path.

 

“Having filed and served our appeal and the accompanying applications, the ball is now in the court of the judiciary, and we expect the judiciary to do what is right under the law,” he said.

 

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

 

The opposition party has maintained that it remains a legally recognised political platform pending the determination of its appeal and is continuing preparations for the 2027 general elections.