National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Seriake Dickson, has insisted that the party remains a legally recognised political platform despite a recent ruling by the Federal High Court in Lokoja that set aside the judgment compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register it.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, the former Bayelsa State governor maintained that the court did not order the deregistration of the NDC and assured party members and candidates that their participation in the 2027 general elections was not under threat.
Dickson said the party had already commenced legal action to challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal, arguing that the trial court lacked the jurisdiction to revisit its own final judgment.
“We disagree with the legal basis of the ruling. The NDC has not been deregistered, and we are taking the appropriate legal steps to ensure that the right thing is done,” he said.
He explained that the party had validly conducted nationwide primaries for all elective offices, including the House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, governorship and presidential elections, with the exercises monitored by INEC in line with the electoral timetable.
According to him, the submission of candidates’ names to INEC is merely an administrative process and does not invalidate candidates who emerged through duly conducted primaries.
Dickson also sought to reassure party faithful that all nominations remain valid despite the legal dispute, expressing confidence that the appellate court would overturn the Lokoja ruling.
The controversy followed a judgment by the Federal High Court in Lokoja, which vacated its earlier December 2025 decision directing INEC to register the NDC after holding that the rights of the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which claimed ownership of the logo used by the NDC, had been affected because it was not joined in the original suit.
The court consequently restored all parties to the legal position they occupied before the earlier judgment and ordered a fresh hearing with all necessary parties joined.
Despite the setback, Dickson said the development had strengthened public interest in the party, revealing that thousands of Nigerians had since visited the NDC’s website to register as members while the party prepares to pursue its appeal.
