NDC Reps caucus rejects court order allegedly de-registering party, vows legal battle

The House of Representatives Caucus of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has rejected a Federal High Court order in Lokoja said to have de-registered the party, describing the ruling as an attack on Nigeria’s democracy and pledging to challenge it through all available legal channels.

In a statement issued on Friday and signed by the Leader of the NDC Caucus in the House of Representatives, Hon. Afam Victor Ogene, the lawmakers described the court order as a “judicial coup against democracy” and “judicial banditry,” insisting that the party would not accept what it termed an unlawful attempt to strip it of legal recognition.

The caucus argued that the statutory 90-day period for challenging the party’s registration had elapsed, adding that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which it said is the only body constitutionally empowered to register political parties, was not the party seeking the order.

According to the statement, the matter was improperly returned to the same court that had earlier ordered INEC to register the NDC, a move the caucus described as “forum shopping” and an abuse of the judicial process.

The lawmakers also questioned the timing of the ruling, alleging that it coincided with the expected opening of INEC’s portal for political parties to upload candidates for the 2027 general elections.

The NDC caucus further accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of orchestrating what it described as an anti-democratic plot aimed at weakening the opposition ahead of the 2027 elections. It claimed the objective was to reduce political competition, although it did not provide evidence to support the allegation.

The caucus maintained that the NDC would remain a legally recognised political party and vowed to challenge the court’s decision up to the Supreme Court if necessary.

It also warned that allowing the order to stand could erode public confidence in the judiciary and INEC and potentially trigger political tension.

The lawmakers, however, urged members and supporters of the party nationwide to remain calm, law-abiding and resolute while the legal process runs its course.

As of the time of filing this report, there had been no official response from the APC, INEC or the Federal High Court to the allegations contained in the statement.