The national leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Seriake Dickson, has appealed to party candidates whose names were missing from the latest list released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remain calm, assuring them that efforts are underway to resolve the issue.
Dickson gave the assurance in a statement posted on his verified X handle on Thursday, following reports that some NDC candidates had been omitted from INEC’s recently published governorship candidate list ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The former Bayelsa State governor urged INEC to correct the alleged omission without delay, maintaining that the affected candidates had complied with the statutory requirements for registration.
According to him, the party had taken adequate steps to address the situation and was working to ensure that all eligible candidates were duly recognised by the electoral commission.
“Our candidates and supporters are assured that the party has been working diligently and has taken adequate steps to address the cases of those whose names were not published by INEC a few days ago,” Dickson stated.
He further claimed that all affected candidates registered with the party before the statutory 21-day deadline stipulated by law.
Dickson also maintained that the NDC had presented qualified candidates across the various elective positions, from the presidential election to the State Houses of Assembly.
He said the candidates emerged through a rigorous screening process, expressing confidence that INEC would address the issue promptly.
“From the presidential election to the State Houses of Assembly, the NDC has fielded qualified candidates who emerged through a rigorous and painstaking screening process. We are confident that INEC will correct this omission without delay. NDC all the way,” he added.
Despite the controversy surrounding the list, Dickson urged party members and supporters to continue their political activities, including consultations, town hall meetings, mobilisation and campaigns across states and constituencies.
He stressed that the party would remain committed to its political objectives while pursuing a resolution to the matter.
The omission has raised concerns among affected candidates and party supporters, with the NDC seeking INEC’s intervention to ensure that eligible candidates are included in the official list.
