INEC restores NDC portal, clears Obi, Dickson’s candidacies

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has restored the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC)’s access to its candidate nomination portal, allowing the party to begin uploading the names of its candidates for the 2027 general elections. 

Senator Seriake Dickson, the national leader of the party and former governor of Bayelsa state,  disclosed the development on Tuesday, describing it as a significant step after the party filed an appeal and an application for a stay of execution against the recent federal high court judgment in Lokoja.

According to Dickson, the appeal and accompanying applications have been served on INEC, urging the electoral body to act in line with the law while the case is pending.

He maintained that the NDC remains a legally recognised political party, stressing that its primaries were validly conducted under INEC’s supervision.

“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,” he said.

Dickson revealed that his name 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 stated.

The former Bayelsa governor urged party members to remain calm, noting that there was still ample time to complete the nomination process within INEC’s timetable.

He said nominations for National Assembly candidates remain open until July 11, while submissions for governorship and State House of Assembly candidates will close on July 17.

Dickson also appealed to unsuccessful aspirants to support the party, saying reconciliation efforts were already underway to ensure all stakeholders remain actively involved in the party’s campaign and organisational activities.

He further commended Prof. Joash Amupitan, INEC chairman for what he described as the commission’s professionalism and expressed confidence that the judiciary would determine the appeal in accordance with the law.

The development comes days after the NDC challenged the federal high court ruling, insisting that the judgment neither dissolved nor deregistered the party and that it remains legally recognised pending the outcome of the appeal.