The Nigeria Democratic Coalition, NDC, says the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, denied its request for the access code required to upload the names of its candidates to the commission’s nomination portal.

This is as the party prepares to challenge a recent court judgment ordering its deregistration.

The development came following a Federal High Court judgment instructing INEC to deregister the NDC.

National spokesman of the party, Osa Director, while speaking on the development, said the party had approached INEC to obtain the access code needed to complete the online submission of its candidates, but was unable to secure it.

He said that officials of the electoral commission informed the party that they would “get back” to them, leaving the NDC unable to complete the mandatory upload before the court’s deregistration order.

“We approached INEC to collect the access code to upload the names of our candidates to the INEC portal. They told us that they will get back to us,” the NDC spokesman said.

According to him, the party’s inability to upload its candidates should not be interpreted as a failure on its part, insisting that the delay resulted from the commission’s refusal to provide the necessary access credentials.

He further revealed that the party would return to INEC to make another request while simultaneously taking legal steps to suspend the enforcement of the court judgment.

“We will go back there by tomorrow. I believe by tomorrow we must have filed a stay of execution in court,” he added.

….and he is not a threat to this govt

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, has dismissed suggestions that the presidential candidate of Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Peter Obi poses a political threat to the Tinubu administration, insisting that the government is focused on delivering its mandate.

Speaking during an interview on Mic On Podcast on Saturday, Dare said the administration was not afraid of Obi, arguing that the government’s performance and policy initiatives had strengthened its position ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“This government is not afraid of Peter Obi. He is not a nightmare to our government. Maybe before, Peter Obi was a threat, but right now, he is no threat because we stand on the solid ground of performance,” Dare said.

According to him, the administration has carefully examined the country’s challenges and is implementing policies and programmes aimed at addressing them.

“We have been able to interrogate the problems of this country. Decisions are being taken, policies are being unfolded across the country, and we have a scorecard to show,” he added.

Dare also criticised Obi’s public interventions, describing some of his comments and interviews as lacking clarity.

“Peter Obi is not a nightmare. Maybe you replace nightmare with nuisance because if you see some of his reactions, they are very pedantic. Sometimes you wonder. You listen to some of his interviews, ask him a question, and he goes in a roundabout direction that does not make sense,” he said.

Commenting on the 2027 presidential election, Dare maintained that Obi would not be able to repeat his performance in Lagos, where the Labour Party candidate defeated Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election.

“Peter Obi defeated President Tinubu in Lagos in 2023. This is 2027; he can’t defeat Tinubu again in Lagos,” he said.

The Chairman of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, in Zamfara State, Surajo Garba Maikatako, has described the party’s reported deregistration as a temporary legal hurdle, urging supporters to remain committed to the ideals of democracy.
Maikatako said this in a statement issued on Sunday in Gusau, where he reassured party members and supporters that the NDC remains a legally recognised and operational political party.

According to him, the party’s leadership had clarified that the NDC had not been deregistered and remained committed to democratic governance and service to Nigerians.

“The recent ruling by the Federal High Court is a decision we view as a temporary legal hurdle, not a death knell,” he said.

The state chairman maintained that the party had complied with all constitutional and legal requirements, adding that its structures remained intact from the polling unit level to the national level.

He also stated that the party’s candidates remained valid and that preparations for the 2027 general elections were ongoing.

Maikatako called on supporters in Zamfara State to remain calm, united and focused, insisting that the development should not discourage members of the party.

He further expressed confidence in the leadership of the party at the national level, describing its governorship candidate in Zamfara State, Senator Kabiru Marafa, as a key figure in the party’s political aspirations.

The chairman urged members to remain steadfast while the party pursues available legal options regarding the court ruling.