Controversy as Court nullifies judgment that led to NDC’s registration as political party

A Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State, has set aside its earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party.

Justice Isah Dashen, who delivered the ruling in suit number FHC/LKJ/CS/49/2025, held that the December 10, 2025 judgment was reached without hearing all parties with an interest in the matter, thereby violating the constitutional requirement of fair hearing.

The judge ruled on an application filed by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which argued that it ought to have been joined in the original proceedings because it had a legal interest in the dispute.

According to the applicant, it had previously sought registration as a political party and claimed that issues raised in the NDC case directly affected its interests.

Justice Dashen agreed with the argument, holding that the PMP had established sufficient legal interest to participate in the proceedings. He ruled that the failure to include the association rendered the earlier proceedings constitutionally defective.

The court further held that material facts were not disclosed during the original hearing, making it necessary to vacate the judgment that compelled INEC to register the NDC.

Consequently, Justice Dashen ordered that the status quo existing before the December 2025 judgment be restored pending the determination of the substantive suit.

He also directed that the case should commence afresh, with the Independent National Electoral Commission, the Peace Movement Party and the Nigeria Democratic Congress joined as parties to the proceedings.

The ruling comes months after INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan disclosed on February 5, 2026, that only two of the eight associations seeking registration had qualified for final assessment and verification in line with the provisions of the Constitution and the Electoral Act.

Amupitan had explained that although the NDC was not among the associations that successfully passed the commission’s registration process, it was eventually registered in compliance with the Federal High Court’s December 2025 order.

“The Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State, in suit No. FHC/LKJ/CS/49/2025 between Barr. Takori Mohammed Sanni & Ors v. INEC ordered the commission to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party,” the INEC chairman had stated.

The latest judgment effectively nullifies that earlier decision and reopens the legal dispute over the NDC’s registration, with the substantive case now set to be heard afresh.