Peter Obi, Dickson, Others Meet Over NDC Deregistration

The leadership of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has concluded strategy meetings ahead of its appeal against the Federal High Court ruling that nullified its registration.

Naija News reports that the meetings involved the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, its national leader, Seriake Dickson, members of the National Working Committee (NWC) and other stakeholders.

The development followed Friday’s ruling of the Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, which set aside its earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the NDC.

A senior party official told Punch that the party had been holding emergency meetings to finalise its legal strategy before approaching the Court of Appeal on Monday.

“Yes, a number of closed-door meetings have taken place since the Kogi High Court judgment went viral. For instance, Obi, Senator Dickson, the party chairman, the secretary and other executives were in yesterday’s meeting.

“Even as we speak, there is another emergency meeting ongoing ahead of tomorrow’s appeal.

“However, we are not privy yet to who will lead the legal team. What I only know is that the NDC National Legal Adviser, Reuben Egwuaba, will play a key role in it,” the source said.

The National Secretary of the party, Ikenna Enekweizu, confirmed that the appeal would be filed on Monday but declined to disclose who would lead the legal team.

“I don’t think it’s appropriate at this time for us to announce who our legal team leader will be. By the time we file our processes on Monday, you will know those who are in the team and who the leader is,” he said.

Enekweizu described the Lokoja ruling as unprecedented and lacking legal foundation.

“This is the worst thing that can happen in judiciary. That ruling has no legal basis. There is no precedent in law that can justify it.

“So, obviously, we see it as part of the attempts by the powers that be to further shrink the democratic process in Nigeria,” he said.

Enekweizu insisted that the party remained confident of victory on appeal and that its candidates would participate in the elections.

“I can assure you that all our candidates, from presidential candidate, His Excellency Peter Obi, his running mate and all our candidates up to the House of Assembly level, will all be on the ballot,” he said.