The national leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and senator representing Bayelsa West, Seriake Dickson, has said the party remains legally recognised despite a recent ruling by a federal high court in Lokoja, Kogi State.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Sunday, Dickson said the party rejected the legal basis of the judgment, describing it as a decision issued by a court that “had become functus officio”.
“It’s a court that ordinarily doesn’t have jurisdiction to sit on appeal over its own earlier judgements,” he said.
The former Bayelsa State governor disclosed that the party had already begun legal steps to challenge the ruling.
“Basically, we disagree as a party about the legal basis and the propriety of the ruling. The party is taking the appropriate and right legal steps to ensure that the right thing is done,” he said.
Responding to concerns over the party’s status, Dickson insisted that the NDC has not been deregistered and remains a valid political platform.
“The NDC has not been deregistered. The NDC has validly nominated candidates for all elective offices in primaries monitored nationwide by INEC,” he said.
He explained that the party successfully conducted primaries for state assembly, house of representatives, senate, governorship and presidential elections within the timeline provided by the electoral commission.
“I myself am also a senatorial candidate of the party. All nominations have been validly carried out, monitored by INEC, in accordance with the time frame given by INEC,” he said.
Dickson also stated that submitting candidates’ names to INEC is only an administrative process and does not invalidate nominations already made.
“So, I assure all our candidates and members that those nominations are valid,” he said.
“The submission to INEC is an administrative procedure. So the NDC is still a party. The court itself did not deregister it. And no step has been taken whatsoever to that effect.”
He added that the party would challenge the judgment at the court of appeal and, if necessary, take the matter to the highest court.
“As soon as possible, once the appeal is lodged and the necessary papers are filed, it’s a matter that will go to the highest levels to set aside the irregular judgment,” he said.
“Once a high court has given a judgement on a matter, the court shouldn’t have any business with anyone who is complaining.”
Dickson further claimed the ruling had unexpectedly increased public interest in the party.
“From Friday, thousands of Nigerians have been flocking to our website to register,” he said.
“They now know more about our party. They sympathise with our party and our candidates. And they are flocking and buying into the vision of our party and our candidates.”