The National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Henry Seriake Dickson, has announced that the party has secured access to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal to upload the names of its candidates for the 2027 general elections despite an ongoing legal dispute over its status.
Dickson disclosed this in a statement posted on his X account on Monday, revealing that the party had also filed an appeal and an application for a stay of execution following a recent court judgment affecting the NDC.
According to him, both the appeal and the application have been served on the Chairman of INEC and the electoral commission, with a request for the commission to act in accordance with the law while the matter remains before the courts.
He maintained that the NDC remains a legally registered political party and has completed its nationwide primary elections, producing candidates for various elective offices under the supervision of INEC officials.
“The Nigeria Democratic Congress has come to stay and remains a duly registered party in Nigeria. 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,” Dickson said.
The former Bayelsa State governor explained that the only outstanding process was the formal submission of candidates’ names through the INEC portal, a process he said had already commenced.
He disclosed that his name, along with that of the party’s presidential candidate, had already been uploaded to the commission’s portal, while the vice-presidential candidate’s details would be uploaded after the completion of the necessary documentation.
Dickson added that the submission of names for other candidates was also underway, noting that the party remained well within INEC’s stipulated deadlines.
According to him, the commission’s timetable gives political parties until July 11 to upload candidates for National Assembly elections and until July 17 to submit names for governorship and State House of Assembly contests.
“There is enough time for all candidates’ names to be submitted to INEC, and there is no reason for anyone to panic,” he stated.
Dickson congratulated aspirants who participated in the party’s primary elections, describing the exercises as largely successful despite the challenges faced by a newly registered political party with numerous contestants.
He also disclosed that reconciliation efforts had begun to bring together members who were unsuccessful during the primaries, assuring them of active roles in the party’s campaigns, committees and other political structures.
“As National Leader, I congratulate all NDC candidates, members and lovers of democracy. All those who expressed interest will be carried along because they constitute the grassroots strength and backbone of our party,” he said.
The NDC leader further called for the protection of Nigeria’s democratic institutions, warning against actions capable of undermining the country’s multi-party system.
“Our multi-party democracy must not die. We will not allow desperados and mercenaries parading as political leaders to destroy our hard-earned democracy,” he declared.
Dickson commended INEC for what he described as its professionalism, particularly its compliance with court directives relating to the registration of the NDC and two other political parties. He also praised the commission for opposing attempts to deregister some opposition parties and for recognising the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in line with a court order.
While acknowledging that Nigeria’s democratic institutions are not without challenges, he urged political leaders to preserve the independence of the judiciary, INEC and security agencies.
Expressing confidence in the judicial process, Dickson said the courts would fairly determine the pending appeal.
“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.
He concluded by reaffirming the party’s commitment to Nigeria’s democratic process, declaring, “Long live the NDC. Long live Nigerian democracy.”
