Seriake Dickson, senator representing Bayelsa West and national leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), says the recent federal high court ruling in Lokoja does not affect the party’s candidates for the 2027 general election.
Dickson spoke during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.
His comments come days after a federal high court in Lokoja set aside its earlier judgment compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the NDC as a political party.
‘NDC still registered’
Dickson said the court did not order the deregistration of the NDC.
He added that the party remains legally recognised and continues to function.
“The NDC has not been deregistered,” he said.
“The court itself did not deregister it.”
“No step has been taken whatsoever to that effect.”
Says candidates remain valid
Furthermore, the former Bayelsa governor said all candidates nominated by the party remain validly nominated.
He noted that the primaries were monitored by INEC and conducted within the commission’s timetable.
“The NDC has validly nominated candidates for all elective offices,” he said.
“All nominations have been validly carried out, monitored by INEC.”
“I assure all our candidates and members that those nominations are valid.”
‘Court became functus officio’
Meanwhile, Dickson faulted the Lokoja court’s ruling.
He argued that the court lacked the jurisdiction to revisit its earlier judgment.
“That court is clearly functus officio,” he said.
“It ordinarily doesn’t have jurisdiction to sit on appeal over its own earlier judgment.”
He added that the party has begun the appeal process and expressed confidence that the appellate courts would overturn what he described as an irregular ruling.
“We expect that the judicial system will correct this anomaly,” Dickson said.
“We are on course.”
