The NDC INEC portal process is underway after the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) announced that it has been granted access by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to upload the names of its candidates for the 2027 general elections.
The announcement was made by the party’s National Leader, Henry Seriake Dickson, in a statement published on his X account, where he also confirmed that the party had filed an appeal and an application for a stay of execution following a recent court judgment affecting its status.
Dickson disclosed that both the appeal and the accompanying application had been served on the INEC Chairman and the electoral commission, urging them to act in accordance with the law while the legal process continues. He maintained that the NDC remains a duly registered political party that has actively participated in electoral processes and successfully concluded its nationwide primary elections.
According to him: “the Nigeria Democratic Congress has come to stay and remains a duly registered party in Nigeria. 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.”
Speaking on the NDC INEC portal access, Dickson said the party had moved to the final administrative stage of submitting candidates’ names. He disclosed that his own details, alongside those of the party’s presidential candidate, had already been uploaded to the INEC portal.
According to him, the vice-presidential candidate’s details would be uploaded after the completion of the required deposition process, while uploads for other candidates were also ongoing. Dickson noted that, under the INEC timetable, the party has until July 11 to upload candidates for the National Assembly elections and until July 17 to submit the names of governorship and State House of Assembly candidates.
He added: “there is enough time for all candidates’ names to be submitted to INEC, and there is no reason for anyone to panic.”
The former Bayelsa State governor thanked aspirants who participated in the party’s primaries, acknowledging that the exercises were conducted under challenging conditions for a newly registered political party. He said reconciliation efforts had already commenced to unite members who were unsuccessful during the primaries, assuring them of opportunities to participate in campaign activities, committees and other party structures. According to Dickson, every aspirant remains an important part of the party’s grassroots strength.
Dickson also urged political leaders to protect Nigeria’s democratic institutions, including the judiciary, INEC and security agencies, stressing the importance of maintaining their neutrality. He commended INEC for complying with court orders relating to the registration of the NDC and two other political parties, while also praising the commission’s stance against attempts to deregister opposition parties and its recognition of the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) following a court ruling.
Expressing confidence in the ongoing legal process, Dickson said the judiciary would determine the pending appeal in accordance with the law, reaffirming the party’s commitment to Nigeria’s multi-party democracy and the 2027 electoral process.
