The Federal High Court in Abuja has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission to approve and publish the modified logo of the Nigeria Democratic Congress on its official website.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik gave the order in a judgment delivered on Tuesday, September 8, in a suit filed by the NDC against INEC and marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1814/2026.
The court held that INEC’s refusal to recognise the party’s modified logo was unconstitutional, unlawful and amounted to an infringement of the NDC’s rights.
Relying on Sections 221, 222(a)-(f), 7(2)(a) and 40 of the 1999 Constitution, as well as Article 11 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the judge found that the NDC had met the requirements for altering its logo.
The court further recognised the design adopted by the party at its first National Executive Committee meeting on March 25, 2026, as its official logo.
Justice Abdulmalik consequently ordered INEC, its officers, agents and representatives to “forthwith approve” the modified NDC logo, including its symbol and colours.
The commission was also directed to allow the party to use the logo for all purposes, including elections conducted by INEC, and to publish it on its official website.
The ruling comes amid a prolonged dispute over the registration of the NDC and ownership of the two-finger victory symbol associated with the party.
The NDC National Secretary, Ikenna Enekweizu, said the party’s registration process began in 2017 but was initially rejected by INEC over concerns about similarities between its proposed logo and that of another political association.
The party subsequently approached the courts.
On December 10, 2025, Justice Isah Dashen of the Federal High Court in Lokoja ordered INEC to register the NDC as a political party.
The then INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, subsequently announced the registration of two new political parties, including the NDC, on February 5, 2026, citing the Lokoja judgment.
The development was later challenged by the Peace Movement Party, which claimed an interest in the disputed logo.
The PMP argued that it had applied to INEC for registration using the same two-finger victory symbol before the NDC and that the electoral commission was aware of its earlier application.
INEC subsequently acknowledged in an affidavit that both associations had submitted the disputed logo during their respective registration processes and that the PMP’s application preceded that of the NDC.
On June 26, Justice Dashen set aside his December 2025 judgment after finding that the PMP had a direct and legally recognisable interest in the matter but had not been joined to the suit or given an opportunity to present its case.
The judge held that the earlier proceedings were constitutionally defective and ordered the parties to return to the position that existed before the December judgment.
He further directed that the substantive dispute be heard afresh, with INEC, the PMP and NDC joined as parties.
The NDC has maintained that the June ruling did not expressly order its deregistration and said it would appeal the decision.
The latest Abuja judgment, however, specifically deals with the party’s modified logo and directs INEC to recognise, publish and permit its use.
Reacting to the ruling, the NDC National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, said the party welcomed the decision, describing it as a vindication of its position.
Director said the party resorted to litigation after INEC removed the modified logo it had previously uploaded and replaced it with the old association logo.
He said the NDC’s NEC approved the modified design on March 25 and forwarded it to INEC, but the commission subsequently removed it without providing an explanation.
According to him, the party gave INEC sufficient opportunity to resolve the matter administratively before seeking judicial intervention.
Director said the judgment had now affirmed the NDC’s right to use the modified two-finger victory symbol as its official logo.
He said the party had consequently directed all its candidates and members to adopt the approved design on campaign materials.
“We thank the judiciary for its timely intervention and for directing INEC to upload and utilise the NDC’s modified digital logo,” the statement said.
The party also urged candidates and members to use only the approved logo on banners, posters and other campaign materials.
It acknowledged that some members and candidates might have already produced campaign materials bearing the old logo, expressing regret over any inconvenience arising from the change.
- ASUU threatens fresh strike over unpaid salaries, agreement - September 11, 2026
- Interbank FX turnover jumps by $38.8m - September 11, 2026
- Court orders INEC to recognise, publish NDC’s modified logo - September 11, 2026
