NDC vows to appeal after court sets aside party registration

Abdullateef Fowewe

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has vowed to immediately appeal a Federal High Court ruling in Lokoja that set aside a December 2025 judgment which had compelled the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the party.

“Our attention has been drawn to a ruling by the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja this morning, wherein His Lordship, Honourable Justice Isah Dashen, gave a ruling on an application filed by an unregistered association known as Peace Movement Party,” the NDC said in a statement on Friday.

The Lokoja court determined the December 2025 judgment was constitutionally defective because it was delivered without joining all necessary parties in particular an unregistered group, the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which claims it applied to register in 2015 using the “victory sign” logo now associated with the NDC.

The judge ordered the earlier ruling vacated and directed a return to the status quo ante, effectively nullifying actions taken under the prior judgment, including issuance of a registration certificate and INEC recognition.

NDC responded that it had already exercised its rights under the December 2025 judgment, saying, “By December 2025, the Nigeria Democratic Congress as an association complained of INEC’s refusal to register us as a political party, whereupon we proceeded to the Federal High Court.

“The Federal High Court upheld our constitutional right to freedom of association under the Constitution and compelled INEC to register us, which INEC did.

“Since then, we have started political activities, embarked on the registration of members, held congresses from ward to national levels, held conventions, and concluded primaries to all offices following INEC’s timetable.”

The party added that it participated in recent bye-elections in Nasarawa and Enugu states and has nominated candidates at all levels ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“We have been fully participating in all INEC activities without let or hindrance,” the statement said.

NDC said the PMP is unknown to it and stressed that the PMP is not a registered political party taking part in the current registration exercise.

“They claimed, in a motion (not even a substantive suit or appeal), that the court should set aside its earlier judgment on the purported ground that, in 2015, they had sought registration as a political party with the victory sign as their symbol and were denied,” the party said.

The NDC argued the court that delivered the December 2025 judgment had become functus officio — meaning it had exhausted its authority over the matter and had already addressed competing claims over symbols and colours when it overruled INEC.

The party said it was therefore surprised that the Lokoja judge found the PMP had locus standi and that the court had jurisdiction to set aside the earlier decision.

“Accordingly, we have been informed that His Lordship made an order setting aside the court’s earlier decision of December 2025. There was no order directing our deregistration. However, we are dissatisfied with the decision that has been made, and we have instructed our team of lawyers to immediately proceed to the Court of Appeal to challenge the jurisdiction and propriety of His Lordship’s order,” the statement continued.

The NDC vowed to protect its candidates and political activities, “We assure the general public, and particularly our candidates at all levels, that our party is on course. The NDC has not been deregistered, and we are challenging today’s order at the Court of Appeal as soon as possible. We have no doubt that justice will be done.”

The party also condemned what it called efforts “to shrink the democratic space and stifle opposition voices and alternatives,” adding that Nigerians “have a right to a full range of opinions, ideas, and alternatives, and political platforms and candidates should be allowed to participate in the 2027 general election process, which has already gone midway.”

According to the Lokoja judgment, the December 2025 ruling was constitutionally flawed because the PMP which claims prior interest in the victory sign (✌️) logo — was not joined or heard.

The judge ordered that the situation be reverted to the status quo ante, a decision that, as the court noted, has the effect of nullifying the registration certificate issued to the NDC, its formal recognition by INEC, and any actions taken on the basis of that registration, including inclusion in electoral records or ballot papers.

However, the NDC has filed notice that it will take the matter to the Court of Appeal on grounds including lack of jurisdiction and abuse of process.

Meanwhile, the implication of the Lokoja ruling is that INEC and affected electoral bodies will need to consider the court’s order and the pending appeal before finalising lists and ballot arrangements tied to NDC’s claimed status.