NDC Reaffirms Legitimacy, Continues Candidate Upload To INEC

Former Bayelsa State Governor and National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Seriake Dickson, has reaffirmed the party’s legitimacy, insisting that it remains a duly registered political party and will continue uploading its candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in line with the electoral timetable.

In a statement, Dickson disclosed that the NDC has filed an appeal against the recent court ruling affecting the party’s registration, alongside an application for a stay of execution. According to him, both processes have been served on the Chairman of INEC and the commission, with a request for the electoral body to continue acting in accordance with the law while the appeal is pending.

He maintained that the party had already concluded its nationwide nomination process, with candidates emerging through primaries observed, monitored and recorded by INEC.

Dickson said the only remaining step is the administrative submission of candidates’ names to INEC, revealing that both his name and that of the party’s presidential candidate have already been uploaded to the commission’s portal. He added that the vice-presidential candidate’s details would be uploaded upon completion of the necessary documentation, while submissions for other candidates are ongoing.

He stressed that the NDC remains fully compliant with the INEC timetable, noting that there is ample time to upload National Assembly candidates before the July 11 deadline and governorship and State House of Assembly candidates before July 17.

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“There is enough time for all candidates’ names to be submitted to INEC, and there is no reason for anyone to panic,” Dickson said.

The NDC National Leader also appreciated all aspirants who participated in the party’s primaries, acknowledging that although the exercises were not perfect, the leadership had worked to address grievances despite the challenges of managing a newly registered party with a large number of contestants.

He announced that reconciliation efforts have begun across the country to unite members after the primaries, assuring unsuccessful aspirants that they would remain integral to the party’s campaign structures, committees and grassroots mobilisation.

Dickson congratulated all NDC candidates, members and supporters, reaffirming the party’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s multi-party democracy and vowing that it would resist any attempt to undermine democratic institutions.

He also thanked Nigerians for their support and prayers, while commending INEC for what he described as its professionalism in complying with previous court directives concerning the registration of the NDC and other political parties.

According to him, with the appeal and accompanying applications now before the courts, it is the responsibility of the judiciary to determine the matter in accordance with the law, expressing confidence that justice would prevail.