The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) says it has yet to receive the access code required from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to upload its candidates to the electoral commission’s nomination portal ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The development comes as the party prepares to challenge a recent Federal High Court ruling in Lokoja that directed INEC not to recognise the NDC pending the resolution of ongoing legal disputes surrounding its registration. The NDC INEC access code issue has now become part of the party’s immediate legal and administrative concerns. Speaking with Vanguard, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, said the NDC had formally requested the access code from INEC but had not received any response.
“We have approached INEC but they are yet to respond to our request. Hopefully, we shall be in court tomorrow to file for a stay of execution of the Lokoja Federal High Court ruling,” he said.
The latest dispute follows a Federal High Court judgment in Lokoja which restrained INEC from recognising the NDC until all pending legal issues are resolved.
The same court had previously ordered INEC to register the party after ruling in December 2025 that the commission should recognise the NDC’s constitutional right to freedom of association. However, that earlier judgment was later set aside after an application by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which claimed ownership of the logo used by the NDC during its registration process. Despite the latest ruling, NDC National Chairman Senator Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe insisted the party remains legally registered because the court did not order its deregistration.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, he said the party would immediately approach the Court of Appeal to challenge what he described as an unsustainable judgment. According to him, the NDC INEC access code delay would not prevent the party from continuing preparations for the 2027 elections.
Zuwoghe maintained that since securing registration, the party has conducted membership registration, congresses, conventions and primary elections in line with INEC’s timetable. He added that the NDC had already participated in recent by-elections in Nasarawa and Enugu states and had nominated candidates for House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, governorship, presidential and vice-presidential contests ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The chairman argued that the Peace Movement Party is neither a registered political party nor an association currently seeking registration through INEC’s ongoing process. He also stated that the Federal High Court had already determined issues relating to the party’s logo and colours in its earlier judgment and had become functus officio on those matters.
Zuwoghe declined to identify members of the party’s legal team, saying their identities would become public after the appeal is filed. He alleged that the latest judgment formed part of broader efforts to weaken opposition politics but expressed confidence that the appellate courts would overturn the ruling. The chairman assured supporters that the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Gregory Obi, his running mate and all other candidates would remain on the ballot for the 2027 elections.
He further disclosed that he had visited INEC and intended to return to continue efforts to obtain the NDC INEC access code needed to upload candidates. Calling on party members to remain calm, Zuwoghe urged Nigerians to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards, reject vote-buying and continue participating peacefully in the democratic process.
