The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has rejected Friday’s ruling of the Federal High Court in Lokoja setting aside the judgment that led to its registration as a political party, insisting that it remains legally recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and has already commenced the process of challenging the decision at the Court of Appeal.
The party’s reaction comes amid growing controversy over the court’s decision, which has sparked debate about its legal implications and its potential impact on the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued on Friday via its verified X account, the NDC said it had become aware of the ruling delivered by Justice Isah Dashen on an application filed by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), an association the party described as unregistered and unknown to it.
According to the NDC, it had approached the Federal High Court in December 2025 after INEC declined to register it as a political party. The court subsequently upheld its constitutional right to freedom of association and ordered the electoral commission to register the party, a directive which INEC complied with.
The party said that since obtaining registration, it had fully integrated into the country’s political process by registering members nationwide, conducting ward, local government, state and national congresses, holding its national convention and concluding primary elections for all elective offices in line with INEC’s timetable.
It further stated that it had already participated in INEC activities, including the recent bye-elections in Nasarawa and Enugu states, and had nominated candidates for the House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, governorship, presidential and vice-presidential elections ahead of the 2027 polls.
The NDC argued that the Peace Movement Party lacked the legal standing to seek the reversal of the earlier judgment, noting that the association was neither a registered political party nor among associations currently participating in the ongoing registration process.
It also maintained that the Federal High Court had become functus officio after delivering its final judgment in December 2025 and had already considered issues relating to the party’s name, logo and symbol during the original proceedings.
According to the party, there was no appeal against the earlier judgment, making the latest ruling surprising.
“There was no order directing our deregistration,” the party said.
It stressed that while it was dissatisfied with the ruling, it had instructed its legal team to immediately challenge the decision before the Court of Appeal.
The party assured its candidates and supporters that it remained a registered political party and expressed confidence that the appellate court would overturn the ruling.
The NDC also accused unnamed individuals of attempting to narrow Nigeria’s democratic space and suppress opposition voices ahead of the 2027 elections.
It maintained that Nigerians deserved multiple political alternatives and insisted that all qualified parties should be allowed to participate in the electoral process.
Background
The Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja had earlier set aside its December 10, 2025 judgment that compelled INEC to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress as a political party.
Justice Isah Dashen ruled that the earlier judgment was constitutionally defective because all necessary parties were not heard before the decision was reached.
The ruling followed an application by the Peace Movement Party, which argued that it had a legal interest in the matter, claiming it had previously sought registration with the same victory sign as its symbol.
The court held that the applicant had established sufficient legal interest and that the omission to join it in the earlier proceedings rendered the process null and void.
Justice Dashen also ruled that material facts had not been disclosed during the original proceedings and consequently vacated the December 2025 judgment.
The court ordered that the status quo existing before the judgment be restored pending the hearing of the substantive suit and directed that the case begin afresh, with INEC, the Peace Movement Party and the Nigeria Democratic Congress joined as parties.
The controversy surrounding the ruling has intensified after the NDC insisted that the judgment did not expressly order its deregistration and vowed to continue participating in the political process while pursuing an appeal.