By Peace Udugba
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has uploaded the name of Peter Obi to its nomination portal as the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), despite a recent Federal High Court judgment nullifying the party’s registration.
The development comes after Justice Isa H. Dashen of the Federal High Court in Lokoja set aside an earlier order that had directed INEC to register the NDC as a political party.
The court ruled in favour of the Peace Movement Party, which claimed exclusive ownership of the logo being used by the NDC. The claimant argued that it was not joined in the original suit that led to the party’s registration and sought to have the registration nullified.
Responding to the judgment, the National Leader of the NDC, Seriake Dickson, disclosed in a statement posted on his social media platforms on Monday night that the party had filed a notice of appeal alongside an application for a stay of execution, both of which had been served on INEC.
Dickson insisted that the NDC remains a duly registered political party and had successfully conducted its primary elections under the supervision of the electoral commission.
He stated that his name and that of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, had already been uploaded to the INEC portal, while the documentation for the vice-presidential candidate would be completed shortly.
Obi was recently ratified as the NDC’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election, with Rabiu Kwankwaso announced as his running mate.
Dickson urged party members and aspirants to remain calm, noting that there was still sufficient time within the electoral timetable to submit the names of candidates for the National Assembly, governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections.
He also commended INEC for what he described as its professionalism and compliance with previous court directives, urging the commission to remain impartial in handling the matter.
“Today, the NDC has filed an appeal against the ruling as well as an application for a stay of execution, which has been served on the INEC Chairman and his team to do what is right according to the law,” Dickson said.
He added that the party remained committed to participating in the 2027 general elections.
