The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has moved swiftly to sustain its 2027 election campaign despite a court ruling that voided its registration, with the party confirming that its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has already been uploaded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal.
National Leader of the party, Seriake Dickson, said the NDC has filed an appeal against the Federal High Court judgment in Lokoja and secured access to INEC’s candidate submission portal, signaling its determination to remain in the electoral contest.
Dickson disclosed that the party had also filed an application for a stay of execution and formally notified INEC of its legal challenge, insisting that the court ruling would not derail preparations for the next general election.
According to him, both his name and that of Peter Obi have been uploaded to the commission’s portal, while the vice-presidential candidate’s details will be submitted after the completion of necessary documentation.
The latest development follows a ruling by Justice Isah Dashen of the Federal High Court in Lokoja, which set aside an earlier judgment that had directed INEC to register the NDC as a political party. The court held that the previous proceedings were defective because all interested parties were not heard before the judgment was delivered.
The decision came after the Peace Movement Party (PMP) successfully argued that it had a legal interest in the matter and should have been joined in the suit. The court subsequently ordered that the substantive case be reheard with all parties properly represented.
Undeterred by the legal challenge, Dickson maintained that the party remains fully aligned with INEC’s timetable and has sufficient time to complete the submission of candidates for various elective positions.
He also sought to reassure party members following concerns over the conduct of the NDC primaries, stating that reconciliation efforts had commenced to unite aspirants and strengthen the party ahead of the campaign season.
Expressing confidence in the judicial process, Dickson said the party had taken all necessary legal steps and now awaits the outcome of its appeal, while urging democratic institutions to remain impartial in safeguarding the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system.