Eshioromeh Sebastian
Amid rising controversy over the registration of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the party’s National Leader and former Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Seriake Dickson, has broken his silence, insisting that the party’s application process began as far back as 2017 with the approval of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Dickson’s clarification comes on the heels of two major developments: the official defection of political heavyweights Peter Obi and Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso to the NDC, and renewed legal threats from a rival political group, the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), over the party’s registration.
In a statement released following a strategic meeting with new members in Abuja, Dickson addressed what he described as “misguided and sponsored propaganda” regarding the party’s legal status.
According to the former governor, the NDC’s journey to registration began in 2017 but was stalled when INEC, under former chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, placed a blanket halt on the registration of all new political parties. He explained that when the embargo was lifted, the party revived its application.
“The application commenced in 2017, when critics were not even dreaming of registering a political party,” Dickson said.
He revealed that the NDC was initially rejected by INEC over a dispute regarding its proposed logo—the ‘V-sign’—which the commission allegedly claimed was too similar to the broom symbol of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“We wrote to INEC to restate that the logos were in no way similar. INEC persisted and even refused us the opportunity to change the logo, upon our offer to do so,” Dickson stated.
Following the deadlock, the party sought legal redress. “We went to court over this unlawful exclusion. The court enforced our rights to freedom of association, deemed us registered, and directed INEC to register us, which they have implemented,” he said.
Dickson noted that INEC did not appeal the judgment and that the period for appeal has since elapsed.
“The NDC is therefore not the only party that was registered as a result of a court order,” he added.
On Sunday, Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, and Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, former Kano State governor and presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in 2023, were officially received into the NDC at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.
Both politicians had exited the African Democratic Congress (ADC) just hours earlier, citing a “toxic political climate” and internal crises that made the platform untenable for their ambitions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Obi lamented that the Nigerian state and its agents were infiltrating opposition structures to create crises.
“The same Nigerian state and its agents that created unnecessary crises and hostility within the Labour Party that forced me to leave now appear to be finding their way into the ADC,” Obi said.
Kwankwaso, on his part, emphasized the need for unity and described the NDC as a platform committed to social development, youth empowerment, and education. “We must focus on reclaiming and rebuilding Nigeria,” Kwankwaso stated.
The event was attended by other notable politicians, including Senators Victor Umeh, Kabir Marafa, Aishatu Dahiru Binani, and Kabir Gaya.
However, the celebration of the new alliance has been met with resistance. Dr. Umar Ardo, a leading promoter of the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), has vowed to challenge the NDC’s registration in court, alleging irregularities in the process.
Ardo, who claims to have spent nearly ₦200 million in pursuit of party registration, alleged that the NDC did not submit a formal application, was not shortlisted on the INEC portal, and lacked the required documentation before securing a court order.
“It is clearly irregular. If there is any other party that failed to meet the requirements but was registered, I will challenge it in court,” Ardo said. “Within 32 days of filing its case, the NDC secured judgment. Our own case has been in court for five months without a ruling.”
Ardo also alleged that the judgment was politically influenced, suggesting a connection between the presiding judge and Dickson.
In response, the NDC has dismissed Ardo’s claims as stemming from personal frustration over the ADA’s internal leadership disputes and failure to secure registration.
With the INEC deadline for submission of membership registers set for May 10, 2026, the defections of Obi and Kwankwaso signal a major realignment in the opposition.
Dickson has called on Nigerians to ignore the propaganda and join the NDC in its mission to reclaim and rebuild the ccount
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