THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has uploaded the preferred and approved logo of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
News Point Nigeria reports that Seriake Dickson, founder and national leader of the NDC, disclosed the development in a statement on Tuesday, saying it was in compliance with an order of a Federal High Court and in line with the constitution of the party as ratified by the NDC National Executive Committee (NEC).
“I thank the National Chairman of our great party, Senator Moses Cleopas, and the members of the NEC for their hard work. I also commend the understanding of all our candidates and members of the party,” the statement reads.
“Our approved logo has now been uploaded, and candidates can print campaign materials and continue their consultations and campaigns with certainty.
“We assure all Nigerians and our candidates that we are committed to seeing this through to the end. We are fighters, and we will fight until the end. We have resisted those who sought to use the judiciary against the party, and they have failed.
“We must now join hands and ensure that all candidates campaign and take their message freely to every part of Nigeria without intimidation.”
Dickson, the senator representing Bayelsa West, called on all NDC candidates to work with the party at all levels in the composition of their campaign teams, stressing that they are not independent candidates.
He also urged the candidates to avoid what he described as “self-sabotage”, while calling for greater cooperation among party members as they prepare for the elections.
The former Bayelsa governor further urged party members to join hands to fight propaganda and misinformation from those seeking to “undermine the party and our candidates and create division with childish rumours”.
“The NDC is a product of vision, selfless dedication, and commitment to democratic ideals,” the statement reads.
“We are prepared to fight to uphold the democratic rights of Nigerians and to ensure that multi-party democracy thrives. NDC all the way.”
Earlier last month, a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered INEC to approve and upload the modified logo of the NDC on its official website.
The judge held that INEC’s refusal to permit the NDC to modify its logo was unconstitutional, illegal and an infringement of the party’s rights.
The NDC had filed the suit amid a dispute over the party’s registration and logo.
Ikenna Enekweizu, the party’s National Secretary, said the registration process dated back to 2017.
He said INEC initially declined the application because of concerns over the similarity between the NDC’s proposed logo and that of another political party.