As uncertainty continues to trail the legal battle over the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), the party’s National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, has moved to reassure members and candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections, insisting that their candidacies remain legally valid despite a recent court judgment.
Speaking amid growing concerns that the ruling could derail the party’s preparations for the 2027 polls, Dickson maintained that the NDC has not been deregistered and that all candidates nominated during the party’s nationwide primaries remain recognised under Nigerian law.
He described the court decision as a legal challenge that the party is already addressing through the appropriate judicial process.
Appearing on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, the former Bayelsa State governor thanked Nigerians for the overwhelming support the party has received since the court ruling, noting that public interest in the NDC has increased significantly.
I want to thank all Nigerians for their support, solidarity, and prayers. Since Friday, thousands of Nigerians have been visiting our website to register.
More Nigerians now know about our party, they sympathise with our vision, and they are identifying with our candidates, Dickson said.
The senator dismissed reports suggesting that the court ruling had nullified the party or its candidates.
To be clear, the NDC has not been deregistered. The party validly conducted primaries across the country under the supervision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
We have candidates for the State Houses of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, governorship positions and the presidential election, including a duly nominated running mate. I am also a senatorial candidate of the party,” he stated.
Dickson stressed that the nominations remain legally binding because they were conducted within the timetable approved by INEC.
All nominations were validly carried out and monitored by INEC in accordance with the electoral timetable.
Under Nigerian law, candidates emerge through party primaries, while submission of names to INEC is merely an administrative procedure. The NDC remains a political party. The court did not deregister us, and no authority has taken any step to dissolve the party, he added.
Court Nullifies Earlier Judgment on NDC Registration
Dickson’s remarks follow a ruling by the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State, which set aside its earlier judgment directing INEC to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress.
Justice Isah Dashen ruled that the December 10, 2025, judgment adversely affected the rights of the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which was not joined as a party in the original suit despite claiming ownership of the logo used by the NDC during its registration process.
Counsel to the applicant, C. S. Ekeocha, explained that the PMP approached the court after discovering that the NDC had relied on a logo the party had previously submitted to INEC before the legal action commenced.
According to Ekeocha, the court agreed that the PMP’s rights had been affected by the earlier judgment and consequently vacated its previous order recognising the NDC.
Despite the setback, Dickson expressed confidence that the legal issues would be resolved and urged party members, candidates and supporters to remain calm while the judicial process runs its course.
The development comes as political parties intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections, with the NDC insisting that its participation in the electoral process remains on course despite the ongoing legal dispute over its registration.
