Peter Obi’s Name Now On INEC Portal As NDC Announces Date For Kwankwaso’s Upload

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) said it has submitted the name of its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to the nomination portal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Senator Seriake Dickson, the party’s National Leader, disclosed this in a statement on Monday. He said the NDC had filed an appeal against a recent court ruling and an application for stay of execution.

The statement said the appeal processes had been served on the INEC Chairman and the commission.

“The party said it had been given access to the INEC portal to upload the names of its candidates as in line with the electoral timetable.

The statement added: “Today, the NDC has filed an appeal against the ruling and a stay of execution/injunction served with a covering letter to the INEC chairman and his team to do what is right according to law and what is legally sensible.

“The Nigeria Democratic Congress is here to stay and is a duly registered party in Nigeria which has participated in all the political processes so far and as I said yesterday, nomination processes have already been concluded and in the eyes of the law, candidates have already emerged from the party for all offices across the country in primaries that were observed, monitored and recorded by INEC.

“What is left now is the administrative process of submitting the names to INEC and we have been given access to the portal to upload our qualified candidates.

“My name and that of the Presidential Candidate have been uploaded to the INEC portal, while that of the Vice Presidential Candidate will be done tomorrow after the deposition is completed. The process is also continuing for other candidates.

“As we have religiously adhered to the INEC timetable, we have from now till 11th of next month to upload all National Assembly candidates, while that of governors and State Houses of Assembly will end on July 17. So there is enough time for all the names of the candidates to be submitted to INEC and there is no reason for anyone to panic.

“As National Leader, I must also thank all aspirants and those who showed interest for various offices. As they know, primaries, no matter how well-run, have only one winner. The processes were not perfect but we have tried to resolve these differences in this short period, for a new party dealing with such a high volume of aspirants in a direct primary situation managed by stakeholders in every state and by party leaders.

“Reconciliation processes have started and we expect them to reach everyone, to complement what I and the leadership have continued to do. And we assure them that all those who have expressed interest will be carried along in the party’s campaigns, committees and structures, because they constitute the grassroots strength and the backbone of our party.

“Congratulations to all NDC candidates, members and all lovers of democracy.

“Our multi-party democracy must not perish. Desperados and mercenaries masquerading as political leaders will not destroy our hard-earned democracy.

We appreciate the solidarity, support and prayers of Nigerians.

“We also thank INEC led by Professor Joash Amupitan for their professionalism so far and we expect them to continue on this path and they will have the understanding of us all.

We thank him for his actions in registering the NDC and two other parties as directed by the court but we also note his stance in filing an affidavit in opposition to the suit to deregister some opposition parties and reversing the non recognition of the chairmanship of David Mark of the ADC as directed by the court.

“All leaders must be united to preserve the neutrality of the institutions that protect our democracy and our nation’s integrity, despite the imperfections of our institutions, INEC, the judiciary and security agencies.

“Having filed and served our appeal and the applications that go with it, the ball is now in the court of the judiciary and we expect the judiciary to do what is right under the law.”