The National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Henry Seriake Dickson, has announced that the party has been granted access to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal to upload the names of its candidates for the 2027 general elections.
Dickson disclosed this in a statement shared on his X account on Monday, where he also revealed that the party had filed an appeal and an application for a stay of execution following a recent court judgment affecting its status.
According to him, the appeal and accompanying application have been served on the INEC Chairman and the commission, urging them to act in accordance with the law while the matter is pending before the court.
He maintained that the NDC remains a duly registered political party, having participated in all electoral processes and successfully concluded its nationwide primary elections.
Dickson stated that the party’s candidates for various elective offices had emerged through primaries monitored by INEC, with only the administrative process of uploading their names to the commission’s portal remaining.
He disclosed that INEC had already granted the party access to the portal and confirmed that his name, along with that of the party’s presidential candidate, had been uploaded.
“My name and that of the presidential candidate have been uploaded to the INEC portal, while that of the vice-presidential candidate will be uploaded tomorrow upon completion of the deposition. The process is also ongoing for other candidates,” he said.
The former Bayelsa State governor noted that, in line with the INEC timetable, the party has until July 11 to upload the names of its National Assembly candidates and until July 17 for governorship and State House of Assembly candidates.
“There is enough time for all candidates’ names to be submitted to INEC, and there is no reason for anyone to panic,” he added.
Dickson commended all aspirants who participated in the party’s primaries, acknowledging that although the exercises were not without challenges, they were successfully conducted despite the difficulties faced by a newly registered political party.
He said reconciliation efforts had already begun to unite members who were unsuccessful in the primaries, assuring them that they would be actively involved in the party’s campaigns, committees and other structures.
“As National Leader, I congratulate all NDC candidates, members and lovers of democracy. All those who expressed interest will be carried along because they constitute the grassroots strength and backbone of our party,” he stated.
Dickson also stressed the importance of protecting Nigeria’s multi-party democracy, warning against any attempt to undermine the country’s democratic system.
“Our multi-party democracy must not die. We will not allow desperados and mercenaries parading as political leaders to destroy our hard-earned democracy,” he declared.
He praised INEC for what he described as its professionalism, particularly its compliance with court orders on the registration of the NDC and two other political parties, as well as its opposition to efforts aimed at deregistering opposition parties.
He further commended the commission for recognising the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in line with a court ruling.
While acknowledging the challenges facing Nigeria’s democratic institutions, Dickson urged political leaders to protect the independence of the judiciary, INEC and the nation’s security agencies.
Expressing confidence in the judicial process, he said the courts would fairly determine the pending appeal.
“Having filed and served our appeal and the accompanying applications, the ball is now in the court of the judiciary, and we expect the judiciary to do what is right under the law,” he said.
He concluded by reaffirming the party’s commitment to Nigeria’s democratic system, declaring, “Long live the NDC. Long live Nigerian democracy.”
