Dickson defends NDC registration, blasts Umar Ardo for misleading campaigns against party

Politics

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — Senator Seriake Dickson, National Leader and founder of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has defended the legality of the party’s registration, while accusing political associate Dr. Umar Ardo of sponsoring what he described as a misleading campaign against the party.

In a statement on Sunday, Dickson said he was surprised by Ardo’s repeated criticism of the NDC despite what he described as years of friendship and political alliance between them.

According to Dickson, the process leading to the registration of the NDC began in 2017, long before Ardo initiated efforts to register the Alliance for Democratic Action (ADA).

He explained that the registration process was stalled after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), under the leadership of Mahmood Yakubu, suspended the registration of new political parties.

Dickson said the application was revived after INEC lifted the embargo on political party registration last year, adding that the NDC was subsequently listed among 171 political associations seeking recognition.

According to him, the party later received a letter from INEC declining its application on the grounds that its proposed logo — a two-finger sign — resembled the broom symbol of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

He said the decision was challenged in court after INEC allegedly refused to allow the party to modify the logo despite an offer to do so.

Dickson stated that the court eventually ruled in favour of the NDC, declaring that its constitutional right to freedom of association had been violated and directing INEC to register the party.

He added that INEC complied with the judgement by issuing the party a certificate of registration and did not file any appeal within the legally stipulated period. “The judgment has been enforced by INEC and there is nothing to appeal anymore,” Dickson said.

He disclosed that following the issuance of the certificate, the NDC gave the required 21-day notice to INEC ahead of its first National Executive Committee meeting, which the electoral commission reportedly monitored.

The former Bayelsa governor also said Ardo was fully aware of the circumstances surrounding the registration process, claiming the two had previously discussed the challenges associated with registering political parties.

According to him, he advised Ardo to seek judicial intervention over the non-registration of the ADA after explaining how the NDC pursued a similar legal route. Dickson further stated that another political party, the National Democratic Party (NDP), was also registered through a court order after facing initial exclusion by INEC.

He questioned why Ardo had singled out the NDC for criticism while remaining silent on the registration of other parties through similar judicial processes.

Dickson said the NDC was already gaining momentum nationwide, with growing membership registration both within Nigeria and in the diaspora. He added that party officials were actively mobilising support across the country while engaging politicians from different political backgrounds.

Reaffirming his personal relationship with Ardo, Dickson said he would have supported the ADA had it been successfully registered ahead of the NDC.

“I would have felt safe in calling Dr. Ardo’s party my own party and worked to build it,” he said, describing Ardo as someone he had always regarded as a political ally.