The Independent National Electoral Commission has uploaded the name of Peter Obi onto its portal as the presidential candidate for the Nigeria Democratic Congress, despite a recent court ruling that deregistered the political party.
The development follows a judgment by Justice Isa H. Dashen of the Federal High Court in Lokoja, which set aside a previous order compelling the commission to register the party.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the court nullified the registration after the Peace Movement Party claimed exclusive ownership of the logo used by the organization, arguing it was unlawfully excluded from the original lawsuit.
In an update posted on Monday night on his social media handles, the National Leader of the party, Seriake Dickson, announced that an appeal and an application for a stay of execution have already been filed and served to the electoral body. Dickson maintained that the political platform remains validly registered and has successfully concluded its primary elections, which were monitored by the commission.
He explained that both his name and that of Obi—who was recently ratified alongside Rabiu Kwankwaso as the party’s flagbearers for the 2027 general elections—are already on the portal, while the vice-presidential candidate’s documentation will be finalized shortly.
The party leader urged members and aspirants not to panic, emphasizing that there is still ample time under the electoral timetable to upload the names of National Assembly, governorship, and state assembly candidates.
He also commended the commission, led by Professor Joash Amupitan, for its professionalism and adherence to court directives in past administrative matters, urging the institution to maintain its neutrality.
“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,” Dickson said.
He further assured supporters of the party’s resilience.
“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. 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 full statement reads:
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, and, as I said yesterday, 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.
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.
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.
As National Leader, I must also thank all aspirants and those who indicated interest for various offices. As they know, only one person can emerge victorious in primaries, no matter how well conducted. The processes were not perfect, but we have tried to resolve these differences within this short period, for a new party dealing with such a high volume of aspirants in a direct primary situation managed by stakeholders in every state and by party leaders.
The reconciliation processes have started and we expect them to reach everyone, to complement what I and the leadership have continued to do. And 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.
Congratulations to all NDC candidates, members and all Nigerians and lovers of democracy.
Our multi-party democracy must not die. We will not allow desperados and mercenaries parading as political leaders to destroy our hard-earned democracy.
We thank Nigerians for their solidarity, support and prayers.
We also thank INEC, led by Professor Joash Amupitan, for their professionalism so far, and we expect them to continue on this path, and they will have the understanding of us all.
While we are thanking him for his actions in registering the NDC and two other parties as directed by the court, I also note his stance in filing an affidavit in opposition to the suit to deregister some opposition parties, and in reversing the non-recognition of the chairmanship of David Mark of the ADC as directed by the court.
Despite the imperfections of our institutions, INEC, the judiciary and security agencies, all leaders must be united to preserve the neutrality of the institutions that protect our democracy and our nation’s integrity.
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.
Long live the NDC.
Long live Nigerian democracy.
HSD