The Independent National Electoral Commission has updated the logo of the Nigeria Democratic Congress on its official portal, replacing the previous design with the party’s blue-background “Two Fingers Up” logo ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The development follows a recent ruling by the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice J. O. Abdulmalik, which ordered INEC to upload and recognise the modified logo adopted by the party.
The latest action represents a new phase in the prolonged disagreement between the NDC and INEC over the appropriate logo to be used by the party and its candidates in the forthcoming elections.
Our correspondent reported in September that the NDC had directed its candidates, members and supporters to immediately begin using the modified logo after the court instructed INEC to upload and deploy the new design.
The party’s leader, Seriake Dickson, disclosed the court’s decision in a statement shared on X. He said the party was compelled to seek legal redress after attempts to settle the disagreement with INEC through administrative channels failed.
Dickson said the revised logo was approved during the party’s first National Executive Council meeting and subsequently forwarded to INEC. He explained that although the electoral commission initially uploaded the new design, it later removed it and restored the old logo under which the association had originally been registered.
“The party had, at our first NEC meeting, approved and forwarded our modified logo to INEC, which subsequently uploaded it,” Dickson said.
“However, without any reason communicated to us, INEC later removed the modified logo and insisted on using the old logo of the association, a position we disagreed with.”
According to the NDC leader, the party allowed INEC adequate time to address the issue but was eventually forced to approach the court after the commission failed to take corrective measures.
Dickson welcomed the court’s decision, describing it as confirmation of the party’s position while also praising the judiciary for stepping in to resolve the dispute.
“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.
After the judgment, Dickson directed NDC candidates and members to discontinue the use of the former logo in party and campaign activities and switch to the modified design recognised in the party’s constitution.
“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.
The latest development comes against the backdrop of an earlier directive by the NDC asking its members to retain the old logo while engagements with INEC over the proposed modification remained unresolved.
In August, the party disclosed that it was collaborating with INEC to replace its existing logo with a modified version, attributing the delay in implementing the change to administrative procedures.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, said the proposed alteration had been formally communicated to INEC following consultations between officials of the commission and representatives of the party.
“The NDC, in consultation with INEC, have also modified our logo and notified INEC appropriately, at a meeting INEC themselves attended with us,” Director said at the time.
He subsequently instructed candidates and party members to continue using the existing two-finger victory-sign logo until discussions with INEC were concluded.
“Until then, however, we enjoin all our candidates and members to continue using the old logo, which is also the two-finger victory sign, for campaign purposes, pending the conclusion of all engagements and arrangements with INEC regarding the replacement,” he said.
The NDC’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and its vice-presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, are among the party’s prominent candidates expected to spearhead its campaign activities ahead of the 2027 elections. The party’s governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly candidates are also expected to campaign under the updated logo.
