NIGERIA – The Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) has filed an appeal against the recent Federal High Court ruling that set aside an earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the party, insisting it remains a duly registered political party under Nigerian law.
In a statement issued on Monday, the party’s National Leader, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson (HSD), said the NDC had also filed an application for a stay of execution and injunction pending the determination of the appeal.
According to Dickson, the appeal and accompanying applications have been served on the Chairman of INEC and the electoral commission, urging the commission “to do what is right according to law and what is legally sensible.”
He maintained that the party had already participated in all stages of the ongoing electoral process, including the conduct of primary elections for elective offices across the country.
“The Nigerian Democratic Congress has come to stay and remains a duly registered party in Nigeria,” Dickson said, adding that the party’s primaries had been observed, monitored, and recorded by INEC.
He disclosed that the NDC had already been granted access to INEC’s candidate nomination portal and had begun uploading the names of its 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 necessary documentation,” he said.
Dickson added that the party remained within INEC’s timetable for the submission of candidates, noting that nominations for National Assembly elections close on July 11, while those for governorship and State House of Assembly elections 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 former Bayelsa State governor also acknowledged challenges encountered during the party’s primary elections, describing them as inevitable for a newly registered political party managing a large number of aspirants across the country.
He said reconciliation efforts had begun to address grievances arising from the primaries and assured unsuccessful aspirants that they would continue to play important roles in the party’s campaign structures and leadership.
Dickson congratulated all NDC candidates and members while thanking Nigerians for what he described as their solidarity and support.
He also praised INEC for what he called its professionalism in registering the NDC and two other political parties in compliance with an earlier court order. He further commended the commission’s legal opposition to attempts to deregister opposition parties and its compliance with a court directive recognising the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Calling for the protection of Nigeria’s democratic institutions, Dickson urged political leaders to preserve the neutrality of the judiciary, INEC, and security agencies.
“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 NDC’s appeal follows last week’s ruling by the Federal High Court in Lokoja, which vacated its earlier judgment directing INEC to register the party, after holding that all necessary parties had not been joined in the original proceedings.
The appeal is expected to determine the legal status of the NDC as preparations continue for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
