BREAKING: INEC RESTORES NDC NOMINATION PORTAL ACCESS AS PARTY RESUMES CANDIDATE SUBMISSIONS

INEC RESTORES NDC NOMINATION PORTAL ACCESS AS PARTY RESUMES CANDIDATE SUBMISSIONS

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has restored access to its candidate nomination portal for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), allowing the political party to proceed with the submission of candidates for upcoming elections despite an ongoing legal dispute surrounding its registration status.

The development was confirmed on Tuesday by the National Leader of the party, Senator Seriake Dickson, who revealed that his own nomination, alongside that of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, had already been successfully uploaded to the portal. He added that the vice-presidential candidate’s information would be submitted once the required documentation process is completed.

According to Dickson, party members should remain calm as there is still sufficient time to complete the nomination process before deadlines set by INEC for governorship, National Assembly, and state assembly candidates across the country.

He explained that the restoration of access followed legal actions initiated by the party after a recent Federal High Court judgment delivered in Lokoja, which raised questions regarding the party’s registration status. The party had reportedly filed an appeal and an application for stay of execution, both of which were subsequently served on INEC.

Dickson maintained that the Nigeria Democratic Congress remains a legally recognized political party and insisted that all internal party primaries conducted so far were supervised and monitored by INEC officials in accordance with electoral regulations.

Speaking further, he said the party had already concluded nomination processes for candidates contesting various political offices nationwide and argued that, under existing legal procedures, duly nominated candidates had already emerged through primaries officially observed by the electoral commission.

He reiterated that the NDC remains committed to participating fully in the country’s democratic process and expressed confidence that the ongoing legal challenge would be resolved in line with constitutional provisions and electoral laws.

The former Bayelsa State governor also disclosed that reconciliation efforts had begun within the party to unite aspirants who were unsuccessful during the recently concluded primaries. He assured party members that those who did not secure tickets would still play active roles in campaign activities and future party engagements.

Dickson further commended INEC for what he described as professionalism in handling the situation and expressed optimism that the judiciary would deliver a fair and lawful judgment on the appeal currently before the court.

The NDC had earlier challenged the Federal High Court ruling that cast doubt on its registration status, maintaining that the judgment neither dissolved nor deregistered the party, and that it remains legally recognized pending the final determination of the appeal process.

As political parties intensify preparations ahead of the next electoral cycle, the restoration of the portal marks a significant development for the NDC as it moves forward with its nomination process amid legal proceedings.