The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has appealed the recent Federal High Court ruling in Lokoja, Kogi State, insisting that it remains a legally registered political party and will continue participating in the 2027 electoral process.
In a statement released on Monday night, June 29, the party’s National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, said the NDC had filed an appeal and an application for a stay of execution, which had been served on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“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 maintained that the party’s candidates had already emerged through primaries monitored by INEC and that only the administrative process of submitting their names remained.
“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.
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“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,” he stated.
Dickson urged party members not to panic, saying there was still ample time to complete the submissions.
“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,” he said.
He also assured unsuccessful aspirants that reconciliation efforts had begun and pledged that they would be included in the party’s campaign structures.
Calling for the protection of Nigeria’s democracy, Dickson said, “Our multi-party democracy must not die. We will not allow desperados and mercenaries parading as political leaders to destroy our hard-earned democracy.”
The appeal follows last week’s Federal High Court ruling in Lokoja, which set aside an earlier judgment directing INEC to register the NDC.
“The party has maintained that the decision did not amount to deregistration and has vowed to pursue the matter at the Court of Appeal.