The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has received a major boost in its legal and political battle after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) restored the party’s access to its candidate nomination portal, allowing it to continue uploading candidates for the 2027 elections.
The development was disclosed on Tuesday by the party’s National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, who described the move as a significant step forward despite the ongoing court dispute over the party’s status.
According to Dickson, the restoration followed the party’s decision to file a notice of appeal and an application for a stay of execution against last week’s Federal High Court judgment in Lokoja. He said the appeal and supporting documents had been formally served on INEC with a request for the commission to act in line with the law.
Dickson insisted that the NDC remains a legally registered political party and that its primaries, which were monitored by INEC, validly produced candidates for various elective offices.
He revealed that both his name and that of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, have already been uploaded to INEC’s nomination portal, while the vice-presidential candidate’s details will be submitted after the completion of the required documentation.
He reassured party members that there was no cause for panic, noting that INEC’s timetable still provides ample time for the submission of all candidates.
According to him, nominations for National Assembly candidates remain open until July 11, while those for governorship and State House of Assembly candidates close on July 17.
Dickson also called on aspirants who did not secure party tickets to remain committed to the NDC, saying reconciliation efforts are already underway to ensure everyone remains part of the party’s campaign and leadership structures.
He commended INEC for what he described as its professionalism throughout the process and expressed confidence that the judiciary would fairly determine the appeal.
The development comes only days after the NDC challenged the Federal High Court ruling, maintaining that the judgment neither dissolved nor deregistered the party and insisting it remains legally recognised pending the outcome of its appeal.
