The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has rejected a recent ruling of the Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, which set aside an earlier judgment compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the party.
Party leaders insist the decision does not amount to deregistration and have vowed to challenge it at the Court of Appeal, maintaining that the NDC remains a legally recognised political platform preparing for the 2027 general elections.
The controversy stems from a judgment delivered by Justice Isah Dashen, who nullified the court’s December 10, 2025 ruling that directed INEC to register the NDC.
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The fresh decision followed an application by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which argued that it was not joined in the original proceedings despite allegedly possessing a legal interest in the matter.
Justice Dashen held that parties with vested interests should have been allowed to participate in the proceedings and consequently ordered that the matter be heard afresh with all relevant parties properly joined.
However, the NDC has dismissed the ruling as legally flawed.
Speaking in Abuja, the party’s National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas, said there was no order directing the deregistration of the party and stressed that its political activities remain intact.
“Our attention has been drawn to a ruling by the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja wherein Justice Isah Dashen ruled on an application brought by an unregistered association known as the Peace Movement Party,” Cleopas said.
“We have been informed that His Lordship set aside the earlier judgment of December 2025, but there was no order directing our deregistration. We are dissatisfied with the decision and have instructed our legal team to immediately proceed to the Court of Appeal.”
According to the party, INEC fully complied with the initial judgment ordering its registration, enabling the NDC to commence nationwide activities in line with the Electoral Act 2026 and INEC guidelines.
Party officials said the NDC has since conducted ward, local government and state congresses, organised a national convention and completed primary elections for various elective positions.
The party also disclosed that it participated in recent bye-elections in Nasarawa and Enugu states and has nominated candidates for the House of Representatives, Senate, governorship, presidential and vice-presidential contests ahead of the 2027 elections.
The Ondo State Chairman of the NDC, Kennedy Peretei, questioned the legal basis upon which the court entertained the PMP application.
He argued that the court had become functus officio after delivering its final judgment and had already determined issues relating to party symbols, colours and registration rights.
“No appeal was filed against that judgment within the statutory period,” Peretei said.
“If any party was dissatisfied with the original judgment, the proper remedy was to file an appeal within the prescribed period rather than seek to overturn a final judgment through a motion.”
The party also maintained that the Peace Movement Party is neither a registered political party nor an association currently participating in the ongoing registration process.
Cleopas alleged that recent legal challenges confronting emerging political parties could be part of a broader attempt to narrow Nigeria’s democratic space ahead of the 2027 elections.
“We condemn efforts by those seeking to shrink democratic participation and stifle opposition voices,” he said.
“It is too late for anyone to use the judiciary to derail or narrow Nigeria’s multi-party democracy.”
NDC leaders expressed confidence that the appellate court would overturn the Lokoja ruling and reaffirm the party’s legal status.
National Secretary Ikenna Morgan Enekweizu described the decision as unprecedented, insisting that the party’s candidates would remain on course for the 2027 electoral process.
“We are filing our appeal on Monday. That ruling has no precedent in law. Our candidates will be on the ballot, and we believe justice will prevail,” he said.
Political observers believe the legal battle could shape future disputes over party registration as preparations intensify ahead of the 2027 elections.
