The Obidient Movement has welcomed the Court of Appeal’s decision restoring recognition of the Nigeria Democratic Congress as a political party, saying the NDC should be allowed to participate in the 2027 general elections in accordance with the law.
The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, in a split 2–1 decision delivered on September 18, 2026, set aside a Federal High Court judgment in Lokoja that had overturned an earlier order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognise the NDC.
Justices Mohammed Danjuma and Muslim Sule Hassan formed the majority, while Justice Okon Abang dissented and upheld the lower court’s position.
The appellate court held that the Federal High Court had erred by effectively revisiting its own earlier final judgment, which had directed INEC to register the NDC.
The legal dispute dates back to December 2025, when the Federal High Court in Lokoja ordered INEC to register the NDC after the electoral body had not recognised the association as a political party.
The Peace Movement Party later challenged the judgment, arguing that it had an interest in the matter and had not been joined in the original proceedings.
In June 2026, Justice Isah Dashen of the Federal High Court set aside the earlier order and directed that the substantive case be heard afresh with the relevant parties joined.
The NDC appealed the decision, leading to the latest ruling by the Court of Appeal.
Reacting to the development, the Obidient Movement said political parties should be allowed to operate and compete within the framework of the law.
The movement argued that citizens’ rights to associate, organise and participate in political activities are fundamental to a multiparty democratic system.
It urged relevant institutions to respect the appellate court’s decision and allow the NDC and its candidates to participate in the electoral process in accordance with the law.
The group also called on political actors to focus their campaigns on policies, programmes and issues affecting Nigerians as preparations for the 2027 elections intensify.
The appellate ruling has restored the NDC’s recognition following months of legal uncertainty.
However, the decision does not necessarily bring the wider legal dispute to an end, as further proceedings remain possible.
The Obidient Movement urged political actors to pursue their objectives through lawful and democratic means and called on institutions to ensure that legitimate political participation is not unnecessarily restricted.
For the NDC, the ruling provides a renewed legal basis for continuing its preparations for the 2027 elections, subject to the implementation of the judgment and any subsequent legal developments.
