Published by Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The national leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Senator Seriake Dickson, has urged Nigerians to disregard what he described as propaganda surrounding the party’s registration, insisting that the process followed due process and that the party’s documentation dates back to 2017. The former Bayelsa State governor made the clarifications in a statement posted on his X handle on Monday, May 4, 2026, following a wave of allegations questioning the legitimacy of the party’s recognition by the Independent National Electoral Commission. In a series of posts on the party’s official X account, @NDCNigeria, and in his personal statement, Dickson dismissed accusations from political rivals as distractions fuelled by envy and misinformation. He specifically addressed claims by Dr Umar Ardo, a political associate and convener of the League of Northern Democrats, who had alleged that INEC acted outside its guidelines by granting the NDC official registration without the party undergoing a formal application process. Dickson refuted the allegations, accusing Ardo of sponsored propaganda, and instead provided documentary evidence including a 2017 INEC acknowledgment letter and a Google search receipt for the party’s V‑sign logo, all of which he said proved that the party’s registration began long before the current political drama. He also revealed that a Federal High Court in Lokoja had mandated INEC to register the party after it was unlawfully excluded from the 2025 party registration exercise, and that the commission had since complied without filing any appeal. “The truth about NDC is in the public domain. The application commenced in 2017, when Dr Ardo wasn’t even dreaming of registering a political party. The process stalled because INEC halted the registration of political parties. However, last year when INEC lifted the embargo, we revived our application and were subsequently listed alongside 171 other political associations,” Dickson wrote in a lengthy rebuttal. He pointed out that the NDC was initially declined because INEC claimed its proposed V‑sign logo was similar to the broom symbol of the ruling All Progressives Congress, a decision the party challenged in court. The court ruled in favour of the NDC, enforcing its right to freedom of association, and INEC subsequently complied by issuing a certificate of registration. Dickson also noted that the period for appealing the judgement has elapsed, and only INEC, which has not appealed, has the legal standing to question the ruling. “Moreover, if INEC who is the defendant has not appealed the judgement which has been accepted, implemented and obeyed, then no one can appeal against such,” he said, adding that the commission had already observed the party’s National Executive Committee meeting as part of post‑registration compliance.
Dickson also used the opportunity to address the growing influence of the NDC, attributing it to what he called a powerful convergence of experienced political figures and grassroots leaders across the country. He named former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso as two political heavyweights who have recently joined the platform, along with several other leaders. In a statement shared on his X handle, Dickson said, “What we are witnessing is a powerful convergence: my role as a party organiser and builder, alongside two political heavyweights with immense grassroots support, popularity and political experience, as well as several other leaders across the country, all coming together under one platform.” He compared the NDC’s ambition to long‑standing political institutions globally, such as the ANC in South Africa, established parties in Europe and America, and even the Communist Party of China, in terms of stability, structure, and the ability to endure beyond its founders for generations. The senator reiterated that the party places a special emphasis on inclusion, prioritising young people and women as central to its structure. “The NDC is a party with a special place for young people and women, one that prioritises mentorship and prepares citizens for service. It is designed to serve the people, not just the big, strong, and powerful, but also the ordinary and the vulnerable,” he said.
The controversy surrounding the NDC’s registration intensified after INEC announced the party’s recognition on February 5, 2026, alongside two other associations, while several other groups that had participated in a formal pre‑qualification exercise were left out. Dr Umar Ardo, whose All Democratic Alliance was among the pre‑qualified associations that were eventually rejected, accused the commission of violating its own guidelines and the Nigerian constitution. In an interview with DCL Hausa posted on YouTube on Monday, Ardo alleged that the NDC had never submitted a formal application and did not take part in the 2025 screening of 171 associations. However, Dickson responded by publishing INEC’s reply letter addressed to the protem chairman of the NDC in March 2017, in which the commission acknowledged receipt of the party’s application and found that the proposed name complied with constitutional requirements. The letter, signed by Mrs Augusta Ogakwu, then secretary to the commission, also directed the party to proceed with other requirements for registration. Dickson also shared a screenshot of a Google search conducted on February 2, 2017, while the party was searching for an appropriate V‑sign logo, further bolstering his claim that the registration process was initiated years before the current political realignments.
He described the controversy as typical of ambitious political projects in Nigeria, saying, “With my experience in politics, I am fully aware that an ambitious project of this nature will attract distractions-rumours, gossip, propaganda, and even blackmail. These are all parts of the terrain that we are used to. I therefore urge Nigerians to discountenance and ignore such propaganda about the NDC or any of its leaders and remain focused on the bigger picture.” He added that the party’s growing popularity and the high‑profile defections into its fold have drawn increased public attention, which has in turn fuelled misinformation and political attacks. Dickson called on Nigerians to join the NDC, register as members, participate in its activities, and contest elections under its platform. “Together, let us reclaim and rebuild our country,” he said, appealing to citizens to look beyond the noise and focus on building a durable party that will serve the interests of the Nigerian people.
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