NDC Accuses INEC of Withholding Candidate Upload Code Amid Court Dispute

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is yet to provide the party with the access code required to upload its candidates to the commission’s portal ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking to Vanguard, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, said the NDC had already contacted INEC regarding the matter but had not received any response.

“We have approached INEC but they are yet to respond to our request. Hopefully, we shall be in court tomorrow (today) to file for a stay of execution of the Lokoja FHC ruling,” he stated.

The controversy comes after a Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State, ruled on Friday that INEC should not recognise the NDC as a political party until all legal disputes concerning the party are resolved.

The same court had earlier vacated its December 2025 judgment that ordered INEC to register the NDC, following a suit filed by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which claimed ownership of the logo used by the NDC.

Despite the ruling, the NDC has rejected the judgment and announced plans to challenge it at the Court of Appeal.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, the party’s National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, argued that the ruling did not amount to a deregistration order and therefore could not stop the party from participating in future elections.

According to him, the NDC remains legally recognised and fully prepared for the 2027 polls.

Joined by members of the National Working Committee, Zuwoghe assured supporters that the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Gregory Obi, his running mate and all other candidates would remain on the ballot.

The party recalled that it approached the Federal High Court in December 2025 after INEC initially refused to register it, adding that the court eventually upheld its constitutional right to freedom of association and directed INEC to grant registration.

Since then, the NDC said it had actively participated in political activities nationwide, including congresses, conventions, membership registration and primary elections conducted in line with INEC’s timetable.

The chairman also disclosed that the party had already fielded candidates in by-elections held in Nasarawa and Enugu states and completed nominations for governorship, National Assembly and presidential elections ahead of 2027.

The NDC maintained that the Peace Movement Party is neither a registered political party nor an association currently undergoing registration with INEC.

It further argued that the Federal High Court had already concluded issues relating to the party’s logo and colours in its earlier judgment.

“Our legal processes will be filed by Monday. Once they are filed, Nigerians will know who constitutes the legal team and who is leading it,” Zuwoghe said.

Describing the Lokoja ruling as legally flawed, he stated, “In our opinion, this is one of the most unfortunate judicial decisions we have seen. It has no legal basis, and we are unaware of any judicial precedent that supports it.”

He further alleged that recent court actions against opposition parties were part of attempts to weaken political opposition in the country.

“Recent judicial developments affecting other political parties suggest an attempt to prevent viable opposition from participating in the democratic process. That effort will not succeed. Our candidates will participate in the forthcoming elections,” he said.

Zuwoghe expressed confidence in the appellate courts, insisting that the judiciary would eventually deliver justice.

“We still have faith in the Nigerian judiciary. The Federal High Court is not the final court in the land. We will pursue this matter through the appellate process and are confident that justice will prevail,” he added.

The NDC chairman also insisted that the court ruling would not disrupt the party’s activities, revealing that he had visited INEC to continue efforts to obtain the candidate upload code.

“This court ruling has not stopped our work. Immediately after this briefing, I am proceeding to INEC to continue the process of uploading our candidates,” he said.

He urged party supporters not to panic, describing the situation as an attempt to intimidate the opposition.

“This is simply another attempt to intimidate us. There is no cause for panic. We remain firm, strong and committed to democracy,” Zuwoghe stated.

He also encouraged Nigerians to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), reject vote-buying and actively defend democracy through the electoral process.

“Nigeria must be rescued through democratic means. We remain confident that justice will prevail and democracy will endure,” he said.

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