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| Peter Obi, Seriake Dickson, Rabiu Kwankwaso at the NDC National Convention in Abuja |
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) says it has uploaded the name of its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) nomination portal.
The party's National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, adding that the NDC had also filed an appeal against a recent court ruling, alongside an application for a stay of execution.
Dickson said copies of the appeal and accompanying applications had been served on the INEC Chairman and the commission.
According to him, the party was granted access to the INEC nomination portal in line with the electoral timetable, allowing it to begin submitting the names of its candidates.
He said Obi's name, alongside his own, had already been uploaded, while the vice-presidential candidate's details would be submitted after the completion of the required documentation.
"Today, the NDC has filed an appeal against the ruling as well as a stay of execution, which has been served on the INEC chairman and his team to do what is right according to law and what is legally sensible," Dickson said.
He maintained that the NDC remains a duly registered political party that had participated in all electoral processes, stressing that its primaries were monitored by INEC and had produced candidates for various elective offices.
Dickson noted that what remained was the administrative process of transmitting candidates' names to INEC through the commission's portal.
He added that the party was working to upload the names of all its candidates within the deadlines set by the electoral body.
According to him, the deadline for National Assembly candidates is July 11, while governorship and State House of Assembly candidates have until July 17, insisting there was "no reason for anyone to panic."
The former Bayelsa State governor also acknowledged that the party's primary elections were not without challenges but said reconciliation efforts had commenced to unite aggrieved aspirants and members.
He assured those who lost the primaries that they would remain integral to the party's campaign structures and activities.
Dickson thanked party members, supporters and Nigerians for their solidarity, while also commending INEC for what he described as its professionalism.
He further urged the electoral commission, the judiciary and security agencies to remain neutral in safeguarding Nigeria's democracy.
"Having filed and served our appeal and the accompanying applications, the ball is now in the court of the judiciary, and we expect the judiciary to do what is right under the law," he said.