The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) says it is yet to receive the NDC INEC access code required to upload its candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal, despite formally requesting the credentials from the electoral body. The party said it remains committed to participating in the 2027 general elections and is proceeding with legal steps to challenge a recent court ruling affecting its recognition.
Speaking with journalists, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, said the NDC had approached INEC for the access code but had not received a 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 said.
The development follows a Federal High Court judgment in Lokoja, Kogi State, directing INEC not to recognise the NDC as a political party until all legal disputes surrounding its registration are resolved.
The court had earlier set aside its December 2025 judgment that ordered INEC to register the party after an application by the Peace Movement Party, which claimed ownership of the logo used by the NDC during its registration process.
The NDC has rejected the latest court ruling and announced plans to appeal the decision at the Court of Appeal.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, National Chairman Senator Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe argued that the judgment did not order the party’s deregistration and therefore did not invalidate its legal status.
According to him, the party obtained registration through a valid court order after INEC initially declined to register it. He said the NDC has since conducted membership registration, congresses, conventions and primary elections in line with INEC’s timetable.
Zuwoghe added that the party had already fielded candidates in recent by-elections in Nasarawa and Enugu states and nominated candidates for the House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, governorship, presidential and vice-presidential elections ahead of the 2027 polls.
The chairman maintained that the NDC INEC access code remained necessary to complete the candidate nomination process and disclosed that he had visited INEC to continue discussions.
“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 also criticised the court’s decision, describing it as legally unsustainable, while alleging that recent judicial developments involving opposition parties were aimed at weakening democratic competition.
The ongoing legal dispute could affect the party’s preparations for the 2027 elections if unresolved. However, the NDC insists its candidates, including its presidential and vice-presidential nominees, will remain on the ballot and that the NDC INEC access code issue will be resolved through legal and administrative processes.
The party expressed confidence in the appellate courts and urged members to remain calm, continue campaign activities and participate actively in the electoral process. It also encouraged Nigerians to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards, reject vote buying and defend their votes during future elections.
