The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced that it has successfully uploaded the name of its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) nomination portal.
Statement from National Leader Senator Seriake Dickson
Senator Seriake Dickson, the National Leader of the NDC, made the disclosure in a statement released on Monday. He noted that the party had also filed an appeal against a recent court ruling and submitted an application for a stay of execution.
The appeal and the accompanying application have been served on the INEC Chairman and the commission, according to the statement.
Access Granted to INEC Portal
The NDC said it has been granted access to the INEC portal to upload the names of its candidates in line with the electoral timetable.
“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.”
The statement further emphasized that the NDC remains a duly registered party in Nigeria, having participated in all political processes so far. It added that nomination procedures have already been concluded and, in the eyes of the law, candidates have emerged from the party for all offices across the country following primaries observed, monitored, and recorded by INEC.
“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,” the statement read.
Upload Schedule for Candidates
Senator Dickson disclosed that his own name and that of the presidential candidate, Peter Obi, have already been uploaded to the INEC portal. The vice‑presidential candidate’s name will be uploaded tomorrow once the deposition process is completed.
In accordance with the INEC timetable, the NDC has until the 11th of next month to upload all National Assembly candidates. Nominations for governors and State Houses of Assembly must be completed by the 17th of July.
He assured party members that there is ample time to submit all candidates’ names and that there is no cause for panic.
Reconciliation and Grassroots Inclusion
The National Leader thanked all aspirants who indicated interest in various offices, acknowledging that only one personifying that only one person can emerge victorious from the primaries. He acknowledged that while the process was not perfect, efforts have been made to resolve differences within the short period available for a new party handling a high volume of aspirants through direct primaries managed by state stakeholders and party leaders.
Reconciliation processes have already begun and are expected to reach everyone, complementing the ongoing work of the leadership. All those who expressed interest will be carried along in the party’s campaigns, committees, and structures, as they constitute the grassroots strength and backbone of the NDC.
Call for Democratic Preservation
Senator Dickson congratulated all NDC candidates, members, and Nigerians who love democracy. He urged that the nation’s multi‑party democracy must not be allowed to die and warned against desperados and mercenaries masquerading as political leaders who could undermine hard‑earned democratic gains.
He expressed gratitude to Nigerians for their solidarity, support, and prayers, and thanked INEC, led by Professor Joash Amupitan, for its professionalism thus far. He also acknowledged the commission’s role in registering the NDC and two other parties as directed by the court, its filing of an affidavit opposing a suit to deregister some opposition parties, and its reversal of the non‑recognition of David Mark’s chairmanship of the ADC as directed by the court.
Despite imperfections in institutions such as INEC, the judiciary, and security agencies, he stressed that all leaders must unite to preserve the neutrality of these bodies, which protect Nigeria’s democracy and national integrity.
Having filed and served the appeal and accompanying applications, the NDC now places the ball in the judiciary’s court and expects it to act in accordance with the law.
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