National leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Seriake Dickson, says the party has appealed the recent judgment of the Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, which voided its registration, while confirming that the names of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and himself have already been uploaded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal.
In a post on his official X page on Monday, Dickson said the party had filed both an appeal and an application for a stay of execution following the court’s decision, adding that INEC had granted the NDC access to its candidate nomination portal.
The Federal High Court in Lokoja had earlier set aside its December 10, 2025 judgment, which had compelled INEC to register the NDC as a political party.
Delivering the ruling in suit FHC/LKJ/CS/49/2025, Justice Isah Dashen held that the earlier judgment was delivered without hearing all the necessary parties, making the proceedings constitutionally defective.
The ruling followed an application by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which argued that it had a legal interest in the matter and ought to have been joined in the suit before the earlier judgment was delivered.
The court also ruled that material facts had not been disclosed during the previous proceedings and ordered that the substantive suit begin afresh with INEC, the PMP and the NDC joined as parties.
Responding to the judgment, Dickson said the party had taken immediate legal steps to challenge the ruling.
“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,” he said.
He disclosed that the party had already begun uploading the details of its candidates to the electoral body’s portal.
“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.
“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.”
Dickson maintained that the party remained fully compliant with INEC’s timetable for candidate nominations and urged members not to be alarmed by recent developments.
“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.”
The NDC leader also addressed concerns arising from the party’s primary elections, admitting that the exercises were not without shortcomings but assuring aggrieved aspirants and members that reconciliation efforts had commenced.
“The reconciliation processes have started and we expect them to reach everyone, to complement what I and the leadership have continued to do.
“And we assure them that all those who expressed interest will be carried along in the party’s campaigns, committees and structures, because they constitute the grassroots strength and the backbone of our party.”
Dickson thanked Nigerians for their continued support and called on democratic institutions to remain impartial in protecting the country’s democratic process.
“Despite the imperfections of our institutions, INEC, the judiciary and security agencies, all leaders must be united to preserve the neutrality of the institutions that protect our democracy and our nation’s integrity,” he said.
Expressing confidence in the judicial process, Dickson added that the party had completed all necessary legal procedures.
“Having filed and served the appeal and accompanying applications, the ball is now in the court of the judiciary,” he said, expressing confidence that the courts would “do what is right under the law.”
Boluwatife Enome
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