2027 Election: NDC National Leader Speaks on Alleged Court Appeal Against Party’s Registration

• Senator Henry Seriake Dickson denied claims of a court appeal against NDC's registration ahead of the 2027 elections
• The NDC founder accused the ruling APC of intimidating opposition parties and constricting Nigeria's democratic space
• The NDC confirmed its successful registration by INEC despite earlier legal and administrative challenges

Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering politics, elections, and governance in Nigeria and Africa.

FCT, Abuja - Ahead of the 2027 elections, Seriake Dickson, founder and national leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has quashed claims that there is an appeal in a court against the registration of the party.

The senator representing Bayelsa West senatorial District accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of intimidating opposition parties and shrinking democratic space.

Speaking at the NDC convention on Saturday, May 9, Dickson vowed that the party cannot be threatened or intimidated.

Read also

Kwankwaso sends message to Peter Obi as NDC zones presidency to South

According to Vanguard, Dickson said:

“The Nigerian opposition landscape is heavily compromised, intimidated and constricted. This party had endured years of legal and administrative hurdles before eventually securing registration from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) earlier this year. The Independent National Electoral Commission complied and issued us a certificate of registration in February this year.

“Contrary to propaganda, there is no appeal in any court against that decision, and INEC has duly registered our party. In national interest and in line with the principles upon which the NDC was established, we have taken a historic resolution on zoning.”

2027 election: Nigeria opposition alliance falters

The Nigerian opposition's hopes of mounting ​a strong challenge to President Bola Tinubu at elections next January have been shaken after two leading ‌figures - Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso - quit a newly formed coalition, citing legal wrangles and internal divisions. Both men joined the Dickson-led NDC.

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Group Speaks Out Over Senate’s Amendment on Standing Rules

Obi and Kwankwaso, who placed third and fourth in the 2023 presidential election, had joined forces with main opposition leader and former vice president Atiku Abubakar and several influential politicians under the ​African Democratic Congress-led alliance. The grouping was billed as the most ambitious opposition realignment in Nigeria in more than ​a decade.

The alliance agreed on April 25 to back a single presidential candidate, aiming to deny ⁠Tinubu the advantage of a divided opposition field. But Messrs Obi and Kwankwaso pulled out.

The opposition's agreement to field a single candidate "is now on life support," Reuters quoted Cheta Nwanze, a partner at Lagos-based SBM Intelligence, as saying.

Nwanze said:

"The ‌feared ⁠scenario has materialised: a fractured opposition that will cannibalise its own votes."

Read more on NDC:

• Mass defection to hit ADC as Kwankwaso, Peter Obi reportedly set to join NDC
• Jubilation as Peter Obi, Kwankwaso arrive NDC secretariat
• 3 reasons Peter Obi, Kwankwaso left ADC coalition for NDC

NDC: Kwankwaso sends message to Obi

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that NDC's Kwankwaso thanked Peter Obi and the Obidient Movement "for adding colour and enthusiasm" to the recently-held national convention of the party.

Kwankwaso made the remarks following the opposition party's event in Abuja.

Proofreading by Funmilayo Aremu, copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng