By Chucks Nwonye
The Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, says it has successfully uploaded the name of its 2027 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, nomination portal, marking a major step in the party’s bid for the presidency.
The announcement was made on Monday by the National Leader of the NDC in a formal statement to the media. According to the party, the move followed a recent court decision which the NDC is contesting, even as it has secured administrative access to meet INEC’s electoral timetable.
The NDC National Leader said the party had immediately filed an appeal against a recent court ruling that had threatened its nomination process. Alongside the appeal, the party also filed an application for a stay of execution.
“Both processes have been duly served on the INEC Chairman and the commission,” the statement read. The party argued that the legal steps were necessary to protect its constitutional right to field candidates and to ensure that its members are not disenfranchised by judicial delays.
A stay of execution, in electoral matters, is a legal request to suspend the effect of a court judgment pending the determination of an appeal. By serving INEC directly, the NDC is seeking to ensure that the electoral body does not act on the lower court’s decision until the appellate court has ruled.
According to the NDC, INEC has now granted it access to the commission’s candidate nomination portal. The portal is the official channel through which all political parties are required to upload the names, credentials, and supporting documents of candidates for various elective positions, in line with the timetable released by INEC for the 2027 general elections.
“Pursuant to that access, the party has uploaded the name of its presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, and other candidates for various positions,” the National Leader confirmed.
The upload is expected to put to rest weeks of speculation over the NDC’s status following the court ruling. For a party to have its candidates recognized on the ballot, INEC must receive and validate the nominations through the portal before the deadline specified in the election timetable. Missing that window typically leads to disqualification.
Mr. Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra State and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, is now listed as the NDC’s flagbearer for the 2027 election. His emergence under the NDC banner signals a realignment within the opposition ahead of the next polls.
Party officials say the choice of Obi reflects the NDC’s strategy to present a candidate with national name recognition and a track record of fiscal discipline and grassroots appeal. The party also confirmed that nominations for other key offices, including governorship, Senate, House of Representatives, and State Assembly seats, have been uploaded alongside the presidential ticket.
The National Leader stressed that despite the legal tussle, the party’s focus remains on compliance and mobilization. “The NDC has acted promptly and responsibly by utilizing all legal and administrative avenues available under our laws,” he said. “We remain committed to a transparent electoral process and will continue to engage INEC within the ambit of the law.”
He added that the party would not be distracted by litigation but would instead consolidate its structures nationwide and engage voters on issues of the economy, security, and good governance.
Political analysts note that the ability to upload candidates now places the NDC on the same administrative footing as other parties that have completed their INEC submissions. The final confirmation of Obi’s candidacy will, however, depend on the outcome of the appeal and whether the courts uphold the stay of execution.
INEC is expected to review all uploaded nominations and publish a provisional list of candidates as provided for in the electoral timetable. Parties will have a window to make substitutions or corrections before the final list is released.
For now, the NDC says it is satisfied that it has met the commission’s requirements and will await further directives from INEC and the courts.
With the portal submission completed, attention is likely to shift to the appellate court, where the NDC will seek to overturn the earlier ruling and secure an unencumbered path to the 2027 ballot.
