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The National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Seriake Dickson, has appealed to the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, his running mate, Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso, and other candidates to remain committed to the party despite the recent Federal High Court judgment in Lokoja that questioned its registration.
Dickson made the appeal on Sunday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, dismissing reports that some of the party’s candidates were considering leaving the NDC following Friday’s judgment delivered by Justice Isah Dashen.
The court had set aside its earlier judgment of December 10, 2025, which directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the NDC as a political party. Justice Dashen ruled that the previous judgment affected the interests of the Peace Movement Party, which claimed ownership of the logo used in securing the registration order but was not joined in the suit.
Reacting to concerns that the ruling could destabilise the party, Dickson insisted that the judgment was only intended to create panic and discourage members. He maintained that all NDC candidates had already emerged through the party’s processes and would eventually be uploaded to INEC’s portal for the 2027 general election.
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According to him, “That is what this kind of kangaroo situation is intended to achieve. But I’m here to assure all members. Our candidates are steadfast and they know the steps the party is taking. In no distant time, they will be uploaded and will be on the ballot. There is nothing to fear.”
The former Bayelsa State governor said the party expected more legal challenges but would not be distracted. He assured members that the NDC remained a legally recognised political party and would not be deregistered, stressing that justice would prevail through the judicial process.
Dickson also ruled out any immediate move to petition Justice Dashen before the National Judicial Council, saying the party preferred to challenge the judgment through the appellate courts. While expressing disappointment over the ruling, he said he still had confidence in Nigeria’s judiciary and believed higher courts would correct what he described as a serious judicial error.
The NDC leader disclosed that the party would file its appeal on Monday, insisting that the Lokoja judgment neither deregistered the party nor prevented it from participating in the 2027 general election.
