The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has restored the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC)’s access to its candidate nomination portal, enabling the party to commence the upload of candidates for the 2027 general elections.
The development was disclosed on Tuesday by the party’s National Leader and former Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Seriake Dickson, who described it as a major breakthrough following the party’s appeal against the recent Federal High Court judgment in Lokoja.
According to Dickson, the NDC has filed both a notice of appeal and an application for a stay of execution of the judgment, adding that the relevant court documents have been served on INEC.
He urged the electoral commission to continue acting in accordance with the law while the appeal remains before the court.
Dickson maintained that the NDC remains a legally recognised political party and that all its primary elections were validly conducted under INEC’s supervision.
“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.
“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,” he said.
He disclosed that nominations for National Assembly candidates will remain open until July 11, while the submission of governorship and State House of Assembly candidates is expected to close on July 17.
Dickson also appealed to unsuccessful aspirants to remain committed to the party, noting that reconciliation efforts were already underway to unite members ahead of the elections.
He further commended INEC for what he described as its professionalism and expressed confidence that the judiciary would determine the appeal in accordance with the law.
The development comes days after the NDC challenged the Federal High Court ruling, insisting that the judgment neither dissolved nor deregistered the party and that it remains a legally recognised political party pending the outcome of its appeal.
