ABUJA, NIGERIA — National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Seriake Dickson, has urged the party’s candidates to intensify their campaigns after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) uploaded the party’s approved logo to its portal.
Dickson, a former Bayelsa State governor, welcomed the development in a statement on Tuesday, saying the upload followed a court judgment concerning the party’s logo. Multiple reports on October 6 confirmed the announcement.
The development is expected to give NDC candidates greater certainty as they prepare for the 2027 general elections.
Dickson Thanks Judiciary, INEC
Dickson expressed appreciation to the Nigerian judiciary and INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, as well as officials of the electoral commission, for complying with the court order.
He also commended NDC National Chairman Moses Cleopas and members of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) for their efforts during the dispute over the party’s logo.
According to Dickson, the uploaded logo now allows candidates to proceed with campaign preparations, including the production of campaign materials and consultations across the country.
“Our approved logo has now been uploaded, and candidates can print campaign materials and continue their consultations and campaigns with certainty,” Dickson said.
Earlier reports indicated that the dispute centred on a modified digital logo adopted by the party’s NEC and incorporated into its constitution. A Federal High Court order directed INEC to recognise and upload the logo.
Candidates Told To Work With Party
Dickson also asked NDC candidates to coordinate their campaign structures with the party at different levels.
He warned candidates against operating as though they were independent contestants, stressing that their campaigns should remain aligned with the party’s wider electoral organisation.
“I call on all candidates to work with the party at all levels in the composition of their campaign teams as they are not independent candidates and avoid self-sabotage,” he said.
The NDC leader also called on party members to guard against what he described as propaganda and misinformation capable of creating divisions within the organisation.
Dickson described the NDC as a party founded around what he called vision, dedication and commitment to democratic ideals. He said the party remained committed to defending democratic rights and promoting multi-party democracy.
Obi Outlines Proposed Presidency
The development came as NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi separately discussed his approach to governance if elected president in 2027.
In a BBC interview, Obi criticised what he described as former President Muhammadu Buhari’s lack of control over his administration.
“He (Buhari) was not in charge. The difference is that I would be in charge,” Obi said.
Obi said he would take direct responsibility for his administration and make tackling corruption a central priority.
Obi Promises To Restore Subsidy
Obi also reiterated his position on the controversial fuel subsidy, saying he would restore the policy if elected while removing what he considers the corruption associated with it.
“From day one, I talked about subsidy. Corruption is the problem with subsidy. I will remove the corruption and return the subsidy,” he said.
The former Anambra State governor argued that preventing those responsible for administering the subsidy system from benefiting from it would significantly reduce corruption.
“If you are not stealing, if you are not involved, and your wife and family are not involved, then you reduce it by 50 per cent,” Obi said.
He repeated that position, saying his proposed administration would restore the subsidy while targeting corruption within the system.
NDC Begins Campaign Preparations
With INEC’s reported compliance with the court order, Dickson is now calling on NDC candidates to move forward with their campaign activities.
The party leadership’s emphasis on coordinated campaign structures also signals an effort to ensure that candidates operate within a unified organisational framework as preparations for the 2027 elections continue.
The latest developments place the NDC’s approved logo and campaign organisation at the centre of its preparations, while Obi’s separate comments provide an outline of some of the policies and governance positions he says he would pursue if elected.
