THE Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has filed an appeal against the recent judgment of the Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, which voided the party’s registration, even as its National Leader, Seriake Dickson, announced that the names of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and himself have been uploaded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal.
News Point Nigeria reports that Dickson disclosed the development in a post on his X page on Monday, saying the appeal had been filed alongside an application for a stay of execution, while the necessary documents had also been served on the INEC Chairman and the commission.
The development follows last week’s ruling by the Federal High Court in Lokoja, which vacated its earlier judgment of December 10, 2025, compelling INEC to register the NDC as a political party.
Delivering judgment in suit FHC/LKJ/CS/49/2025, the presiding judge, Justice Isah Dashen, held that the earlier decision was reached without hearing all necessary parties, making the proceedings constitutionally defective.
The ruling came after 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 as a party before the judgment was delivered.
Justice Dashen further held that material facts had not been disclosed during the earlier proceedings and consequently ordered that the substantive suit should commence afresh with INEC, the Peace Movement Party and the NDC joined as parties.
Responding to the judgment, Dickson said the NDC had immediately challenged the ruling at the appellate court while taking steps to comply with INEC’s electoral timetable.
He said: “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.”
According to him, the commission has already granted the party access to its portal for the submission of candidates.
“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 stated.
The NDC leader maintained that the party remained fully aligned with the timelines released by INEC for the submission of candidates seeking various elective offices.
“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,” he said.
Dickson also acknowledged concerns arising from the party’s recently concluded primaries, describing the process as imperfect but assuring members that reconciliation efforts had already begun.
“The reconciliation processes have started and we expect them to reach everyone, to complement what I and the leadership have continued to do,” he said.
“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.”
He also expressed appreciation to Nigerians for their continued support and called on key democratic institutions to remain impartial in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities.
“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,” Dickson said.
He added that, having filed the appeal and all accompanying applications and served the relevant parties, “the ball is now in the court of the judiciary,” expressing confidence that the courts would ultimately “do what is right under the law.”