Obi’s name uploaded on INEC portal, says Dickson

The National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Seriake Dickson, says the name of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has been uploaded to the portal of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Mr Dickson disclosed this on Tuesday while providing an update on the legal dispute surrounding the status of the opposition party.

In a statement posted on his Facebook page, the former Bayelsa governor said the NDC had filed a notice of appeal against the recent court ruling affecting the party, alongside an application for a stay of execution.

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

Mr Dickson maintained that the NDC remains a duly registered political party that has participated in all electoral processes conducted so far.

According to him, the party has concluded its primary elections and validly produced candidates for various elective offices in primaries monitored and documented 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.

“My name and that of the presidential candidate have been uploaded to the INEC portal, while that of the vice-presidential candidate will be uploaded tomorrow upon completion of the deposition. The process is also ongoing for other candidates,” he said.

Mr Dickson added that the party remained fully compliant with the electoral timetable released by INEC.

“In accordance with the INEC timetable, which we have religiously abided by, we have between now and July 11 to upload the names of all National Assembly candidates, while the submission of governorship and State House of Assembly candidates will end on July 17. 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 NDC leader also thanked aspirants who participated in the party’s primaries, acknowledging that although the process was not perfect, efforts were being made to reconcile aggrieved members.

“As National Leader, I thank all aspirants and those who indicated interest in various offices. Only one person can emerge victorious in any primary election, no matter how well conducted.

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

Mr Dickson also commended INEC for what he described as its professionalism in handling the matter and expressed confidence that the judiciary would determine the party’s appeal in accordance with the law.