Nigeria's NDC Party Regains INEC Nomination Portal Access Amid Court Appeal

Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has emphasized his long‑term vision of building the party as an ideology‑based institution rather than a short‑term electoral vehicle. Following a Federal High Court judgment in Lokoja that cast doubt on the party’s registration, the NDC filed an appeal and a stay of execution, sending the applications to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). INEC subsequently restored the party’s access to its candidate nomination portal, allowing the NDC to upload the names of its candidates, including Dickson himself and presidential candidate Peter Obi, ahead of the upcoming electoral calendar. Dickson thanked INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan for the commission’s professionalism and urged party members not to panic, noting ample time remains to complete the submission process and that reconciliation efforts with unsuccessful aspirants are underway.

The development signals that the NDC remains an active participant in Nigeria’s political contest, pending the judiciary’s final ruling on its appeal.