By Samuel Adzegeh The Benue state chapter of the NDC is currently in a frenzy of celebrations as it expects supporters from the State's twety three local governments and beyond for the unveiling of its candidates for next year's elections. The delegates are expected in Makurdi the Benue State capital Tuesday September 22 2026 for the unveil of the party's candidates for governorship and Deputy governorship, Senatorial and House of Representatives as well as State House of Assembly. This comes even as the party's loyalists nationwide are still celebrating yesterda (Friday's) Appeal Court judgment which set aside a earlier ruling by Justice Isah Dashen of the Federal High Court, Lokoja, which ruled which annuled the party's registration by INEC. In a judgment delivered by the presiding Justice Mohammed Danjuma and read by Justice Hassan, the Appeal Court ruled in favour of allowing the NDC's Appeal which challenged the earlier ruling of the Federal High Court, Lokoja, and accordingly set aside Justice Dashen’s judgment. In an immediate reaction yesterday, Leader of the NDC, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, NDC Leader expressed delight at the Appral Court judgment. He said, "Today, the Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court, Lokoja, delivered by Justice Isah Dashen a few months ago, which purported to order the deregistration of our party, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). We want to use this opportunity once again to commend the Nigerian judiciary, and in particular, Hon. Justice Danjuma and Hon. Justice Hassan, for upholding the integrity of the Nigerian judiciary and, by their decisions, expanding the sphere of multiparty democratic participation in Nigeria. "We have said repeatedly that the NDC was set up to expand the frontier of multiparty democracy in Nigeria. Justice Dashen’s judgment a few months ago was an unexpected assault on our constitutional right to participate and an attempt to narrow the democratic space. Happily, today, by the decision of the Court of Appeal, the Nigerian democratic space has been protected, and the NDC’s right to participate in all political activities as a registered political party has been upheld. I congratulate all members and candidates of our great party and thank Nigerians for their prayers and support.. "When the unexpected judgment of the Lokoja Federal High Court was delivered, we were bombarded with several calls for sympathy, support and prayers. Today, our collective prayers have been answered. The NDC continues to exist. Our registration remains valid and subsisting, and we and all our candidates will participate in all elections in 2027 and beyond, by the grace of God. Everyone should now focus on the campaigns, prepare for the elections, and focus on the task ahead to face the APC and defeat them at the polls. "A resort to arm-twisting, inducing or intimidating the judiciary will not work. We remain confident in the strength of our message, the commitment of our members, the viability of our candidates, and the support of Nigerians. With this conviction, we look forward to the forthcoming elections and are confident that the NDC will emerge victorious at the polls, by the grace of God. The fight for Nigeria's multiparty democracy continues and by the grace of God we will emerge victorious. NDC ALL THE WAY"️ Complementing the joy of the judicial victory, the Benue NDC expects thousandx of its delegates from across the nation as they converge for the unveiling of the party's candidates in next year's gubernatorial elections. Expected to grace the occasion are promi entitled national figures of the party including its presidential candidate His Excellency Peter Obi, his Deputy Rabiu Muaa Kwankwaso and many more from across the nation. Obi will be making his third visit to the State. The Mandate recall that the NDC Presidential candidate was for the second time, prevented from entering the Benue State capital by youth believed to have been sponsored by the state government under Rev. Hyacinth Iormem Alia. Speaking to newsmen at the scene of his stoppage two weeks ago, Obi emphatically confirmed that he would return to Benue State because it is his second home and because, as a free Nigerian he had the right to visit any part of the country. The incident drew wide condemnation of the Alia administration from across the world with strident criticism from Amnesty International and other prominent world organizations. It also boosted the party's popularity in the State and across the entire nation.

Posted: 4weeks ago

Author: Editor in Chief

Current date: 18 October 2026