- Safiu Kehinde
The Nigeria Democratic Congress has secured a court order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to upload and use the party’s modified digital logo.
This was announced in a statement issued on Wednesday by the NDC’s National Leader, Seriake Dickson.
According to Dickson, the Judgement delivered by the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja followed a suit filed by the party over INEC’s use of its old logo.
He said the party had approved the modified logo at its first National Executive Council (NEC) meeting and forwarded it to INEC, which initially uploaded the design.
However, the electoral commission later removed the modified logo without communicating any reason to the party and reverted to the logo with which the NDC was originally registered.
Dickson said the party subsequently approached the court after giving INEC sufficient time to resolve the matter.
“We therefore commend the judiciary for its timely intervention and welcome the judgment directing INEC to forthwith upload and utilise our modified digital logo,” he said.
In the wake of the court’s ruling, the NDC leader urged the party’s candidates and members to immediately begin using the modified logo approved in the party’s constitution on campaign materials.
“We urge all candidates and party members to forthwith adopt and utilise the approved logo in all campaign materials, including banners, posters and other publicity materials,” he said.
Dickson however acknowledged that some candidates and members may have made arrangements using the old design and said the party regretted any inconvenience caused by the change.
He noted that both logos feature the two-finger victory sign, while describing the modified design as the authentic logo approved by the party’s constitution and “the one that is more widely recognised.”
The NDC National Leader said there was no reason for members to panic over the development, assuring them that the party had experienced leaders capable of handling the matter.
“I want to assure everyone that the party has experienced and strategic leaders who understand what we are doing. Therefore, nobody should panic,” Dickson said.
He described the controversy surrounding the logo as part of what he called “the administrative machinations” the party had continued to face.
“But we want to assure our members that we are democratic fighters. We do not run away from battles,” he said.
Dickson said the party would issue a formal statement and commence publicity to guide candidates and members on the use of the approved logo, while also sensitising voters.
He added that the NDC was grateful to the judiciary, saying, “We thank God that the judiciary has once again vindicated our position.”
The party leader called on all NDC candidates and members to use the constitutionally approved modified digital logo in all campaign and party-related materials with immediate effect.