NEWS
NDC Alleges INEC Denied Access Code for Candidate Upload, Moves to Halt Deregistration Order
The National Democratic Coalition (NDC) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of denying it the access code required to upload the names of its candidates to the commission’s nomination portal, a development that comes amid the party’s legal battle against a Federal High Court judgment ordering its deregistration.
The controversy has added another dimension to the unfolding political and legal dispute surrounding the party’s status, raising fresh concerns about its ability to participate in upcoming elections while court proceedings continue.
The Federal High Court recently ordered the deregistration of the NDC, a judgment that has thrown the party’s future into uncertainty and placed its participation in Nigeria’s electoral process under serious threat.
Reacting to the development, the National Publicity Secretary of the NDC, Osa Director, alleged that the party made efforts to comply with INEC’s candidate nomination procedures but was unable to do so because the electoral commission did not provide the access code needed to complete the online submission.
According to him, party officials approached INEC to obtain the necessary credentials but were informed that the commission would respond at a later time, leaving the NDC unable to complete the mandatory upload before the court’s deregistration order took effect.
“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 director said.
He maintained that the party’s inability to upload the names of its candidates should not be interpreted as negligence or non-compliance, insisting that the delay was caused by the commission’s failure to provide the required access credentials despite the party’s efforts.
The NDC spokesman further disclosed that the party has resolved to make another approach to INEC while simultaneously pursuing legal remedies to prevent the immediate enforcement of the court’s judgment.
“We will go back there by tomorrow. I believe by tomorrow we must have filed a stay of execution in court,“ he stated.
According to him, the party’s legal team has already commenced the process of filing a stay of execution, a move intended to suspend the implementation of the deregistration order pending the determination of its appeal.
The legal action, if successful, could preserve the party’s status while the appellate court considers the substantive issues arising from the judgment.
The Federal High Court’s decision to deregister the NDC has continued to generate debate over the future of the party and whether it can lawfully sponsor candidates in future elections while the litigation remains unresolved.
Political observers note that the case has also renewed attention on the legal and administrative procedures governing the registration, deregistration, and participation of political parties in Nigeria’s electoral system.
Should the court grant the party’s application for a stay of execution, the existing situation may remain unchanged until the appeal is heard and determined. However, unless such relief is granted, the deregistration order is expected to remain in force.
The dispute has also raised broader questions about the relationship between judicial decisions and electoral administration, particularly where political parties are expected to meet statutory deadlines for candidate nominations while legal proceedings affecting their status are still pending.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the party’s legal standing, the NDC leadership insists it remains determined to exhaust every available legal avenue to overturn the judgment and safeguard the rights of its members and supporters.
The outcome of the planned court action is expected to play a decisive role in determining whether the National Democratic Coalition can retain its legal status and continue participating in Nigeria’s democratic process ahead of future elections.