ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of failing to provide the access code required to upload its candidates for the 2027 general elections, even as the party disclosed plans to file a stay of execution against the recent Federal High Court judgment restraining the electoral body from recognising it.
The party said it had formally approached INEC for the access code but was yet to receive any response from the commission.
Speaking with Vanguard on Saturday, the National Publicity Secretary of the NDC, Osa Director, said the party remained hopeful that the commission would respond while its legal team moved to challenge the court’s decision.
“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 Federal High Court ruling,” he said.
The development comes barely two days after a Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State, ordered INEC not to recognise the NDC as a political party pending the determination of all legal disputes surrounding its registration.
The same court had earlier set aside its December 2025 judgment which compelled INEC to register the party, following an application by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), an association claiming ownership of the logo the NDC used in obtaining its registration.
Rejecting the latest judgment, the NDC last Friday declared that it would immediately challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal, insisting that it remains a legally recognised political party.
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Addressing journalists in Abuja, the party’s National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, criticised the judgment, maintaining that the court did not order the deregistration of the NDC and, therefore, its legal status remained intact.
Flanked by members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), Zuwoghe assured Nigerians that the NDC would participate fully in the 2027 presidential and general elections.
According to him, the party only approached the Federal High Court in December 2025 after INEC declined to register it, and the court subsequently upheld its constitutional right to freedom of association by directing the electoral commission to grant it registration.
He said that following its registration, the party had actively participated in Nigeria’s democratic process by conducting membership registration, ward, local government, state and national congresses, conventions and primary elections in line with INEC’s electoral timetable.
The chairman added that the party had already fielded candidates in the recent by-elections in Nasarawa and Enugu states and had nominated candidates for the House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, governorship, presidential and vice-presidential elections ahead of the 2027 polls.
The NDC also argued that the Peace Movement Party is neither a registered political party nor an association currently seeking registration under INEC’s ongoing political party registration exercise.
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It further maintained that the Federal High Court had become functus officio after delivering its final judgment on the matter, adding that issues relating to the use of the party’s symbol and colours had already been conclusively resolved.
Responding to questions from journalists, Zuwoghe declined to disclose the members of the party’s legal team.
“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,” he said.
Describing the Lokoja judgment as legally untenable, the NDC chairman said, “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 the ruling formed part of a broader attempt to weaken opposition politics and diminish democratic competition 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 stated.
Expressing confidence in the appellate courts, Zuwoghe added, “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 also assured supporters that the party’s presidential candidate, Mr Peter Gregory Obi, his running mate and all other NDC candidates would remain on the ballot for the 2027 general elections.
According to him, the rapid rise of the NDC within four months of its registration had unsettled the ruling establishment.
“Within four months of registration, the NDC has emerged as a major opposition force. That naturally attracts political attention,” he said.
Maintaining that the party’s legal position remained solid, Zuwoghe disclosed that he had visited INEC the previous day and intended to return after the briefing to obtain the candidate-upload access 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 members and candidates not to be intimidated by the court decision but to remain focused on their campaigns.
“This is simply another attempt to intimidate us. There is no cause for panic. We remain firm, strong and committed to democracy,” he added.
Calling on Nigerians to participate actively in the electoral process, the NDC chairman urged eligible voters to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), vote according to their conscience, reject vote-buying and defend their votes.
“Nigeria must be rescued through democratic means. We remain confident that justice will prevail and democracy will endure,” he said.