By Senator Henry Seriake Dickson
I wish to address the misguided and sponsored propaganda against the NDC from Dr. Umar Ardo; someone I call a friend and political ally for several years. Dr. Ardo’s consistent propaganda against the NDC, especially knowing my involvement as founder and national leader, is shocking and speaks to a lack of respect and loyalty to friendship.
The truth about NDC is in the public domain: The application commenced in 2017, when Dr. Ardo wasn’t even dreaming of registering a political party. The process stalled because INEC, under Dr. Mahmood Yakubu, halted the registration of political parties.
However, last year when INEC lifted the embargo on registration of political parties, we revived our application and were subsequently listed alongside the 171 political associations. We waited to be invited by INEC to participate in the next stages of the registration process, only to receive a letter from INEC stating that our application was declined because our proposed logo, which is the two-finger sign, was similar to that of the APC broom.
This was shocking to us and we wrote back to INEC to restate that the logos were in no way similar. INEC persisted and even refused us the opportunity to change the logo, upon our offer to do so. We wrote to INEC notifying them of our intention to sue and we went to court over this unlawful exclusion and upon this, the court enforced our rights to freedom of association, deemed us registered and directed INEC to register us, which they have implemented.
INEC announced the NDC as one of the political parties in the country and issued a certificate of registration which we thank Prof. Amupitan, SAN, and the INEC, just as we thank the Judiciary. INEC did not and has not appealed this judgement, and by the way, the period of appeal has elapsed and no one, except INEC, has the locus standi to appeal the judgement.
The judgment has been enforced by INEC and there’s nothing to appeal anymore. Moreover, if INEC who is the defendant has not appealed the judgement which has been accepted, implemented and obeyed, then no one can appeal against such.
Upon receiving the certificate, we gave the mandatory 21 days notice to INEC and they came about two weeks ago to observe our first NEC, which confirmed our officers and also took dates for our congresses and primaries, to be announced by the party soonest.
Dr. Ardo is aware of all of this because being a friend, we spoke, where he explained his frustrations stemming from INEC’s refusal to register the ADA. I explained how I faced a similar delay but approached the court and advised him to do same, which he followed.
I am aware of the challenges he has in court as a result of disputes between him and his fellow promoters of the ADA and the NDC has nothing to do with this and, therefore, can not bear any responsibilities for his disappointment and frustration.
A few weeks ago, INEC also registered the NDP, which was excluded but went to court and got judgement. And again, INEC chairman and his team did not appeal against it but obeyed the order, registered the party and issued a certificate of registration.
The NDC is therefore not the only party that was registered as a result of a court order. It is curious that Dr. Adoh is his vituperations, said nothing about the NDP or other registered political parties.
We are happy with the NDC’s registration and its formal presentation. Nigerians from all over the country and in the diaspora are registering massively and the party is gaining momentum with our officers working hard and promoting it. I am doing same, receiving top politicians from across the country and from all political parties.
Henry Seriake Dickson is a Senator, former member of House of Representatives and former Governor of Bayelsa State (2012 – 2020)