Peter Obi’s Name Appears on INEC Portal, as NDC Appeals Nullification of Registration

By Reporter

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has appealed a Federal High Court ruling that nullified an earlier judgement directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the party.

The Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State, on Friday set aside its December 2025 judgement that had ordered INEC to recognise the NDC as a political party.

The decision followed an application filed by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which argued that it was not joined as a party in the original suit despite having an interest in the matter. Presiding judge Isah Dashen agreed with the argument, ruling that all relevant parties must be heard before a substantive decision can be reached.

Justice Dashen held that the omission rendered the earlier proceedings null and void. He consequently restored the status quo that existed before the December 2025 judgement, pending the determination of the substantive case.

Reacting to the ruling, the NDC said it has filed an appeal and is also seeking a stay of execution.

In a Facebook post on Monday night, the party’s National Leader, Seriake Dickson, disclosed that the appeal and accompanying applications had been served on the INEC chairman and the commission.

“Having filed and served our appeal and the accompanying applications, the ball is now in the court of the judiciary, and we expect the judiciary to do what is right under the law,” Dickson said.

He also revealed that INEC had granted the party access to its candidate nomination portal following the filing of the appeal.

According to him, the party has already uploaded the names of its Bayelsa West District candidate and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to the INEC portal.

“We have been granted access to the INEC portal to upload our qualified candidates. My name and that of the presidential candidate, Peter Obi, have been uploaded to the INEC portal, while that of the vice-presidential candidate will be uploaded upon completion of the required documentation. The process is also ongoing for other candidates,” he said.

Dickson did not disclose the court where the appeal was filed.

However, information obtained by Midwest Herald indicates that the appeal was lodged before the Court of Appeal in Lokoja, Kogi State.

As of the time of filing this report, the appellate court had not announced a date for hearing the appeal.