INEC restores NDC portal access amid court battle over party status

Amid its legal challenge to a Federal High Court ruling, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) says it has been cleared to continue its candidate nomination process after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) restored access to the party’s submission portal.

According to the party leader Seriake Dickson, the restoration of access followed the filing of a notice of appeal and an application for a stay of execution against last week’s judgment of the Federal High Court in Lokoja.

He explained that copies of the appeal and related court applications had already been served on INEC together with a letter requesting the commission to act in line with the law.

Dickson insisted that the NDC remains a validly registered political party and that its primary elections, conducted under INEC’s supervision, produced candidates for various elective offices.

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

“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.

“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.”

He disclosed that the names of both himself and the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, had already been uploaded to the 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.”

Dickson appealed to party members to remain calm, stressing that there was still ample time to complete the submission of candidates before the deadlines set by the electoral commission.

“In accordance with the INEC timetable, which we have religiously abided by, we have between now and the 11th of next month to upload all National Assembly candidates, while those of governors and State Houses of Assembly will end on the 17th of July.

“So there is enough time for all candidates’ names to be submitted to INEC and there is no reason for anyone to panic.”

The former Bayelsa State governor also called on aspirants who were unsuccessful during the party’s primaries to unite behind the NDC, revealing that reconciliation efforts were already underway.

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

Dickson further commended INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, for what he described as the commission’s professional conduct and expressed confidence that the courts would determine the appeal in accordance with the law.

“We thank INEC, led by Professor Joash Amupitan, for their professionalism so far, and we expect them to continue on this path.

“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.”

The announcement comes only days after the NDC challenged the Lokoja Federal High Court judgment at the Court of Appeal, maintaining that the ruling neither dissolved nor deregistered the party. The party has continued to insist that it remains legally recognised pending the outcome of the appeal.