NDC heads to Appeal Court over ruling against party registration

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has vowed to challenge a Federal High Court ruling that set aside its earlier judgement compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the party.

The NDC said it had instructed its legal team to immediately approach the Court of Appeal to contest the ruling delivered by Justice Isah Dashen of the Federal High Court in Lokoja, the capital of Kogi State, on Friday, June 26, 2026.

The ruling followed an application filed by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), an association the NDC described as unregistered and unknown to it.

The NDC recalled that it secured a court judgement in December 2025 after challenging INEC’s refusal to register it as a political party.

It said the court upheld its constitutional right to freedom of association and ordered INEC to register the party, noting that the directive was subsequently complied with.

Since its registration, the party said it had conducted membership registration, ward-to-national congresses, national conventions, and primary elections in line with INEC’s timetable.

The NDC added that it also participated in the recent by-elections in Nasarawa and Enugu States and had nominated candidates for various elective offices ahead of the 2027 general election.

The party stated: “The court, having delivered a final judgment in our suit against INEC, had become functus officio.

Court nullifies NDC registration by INEC, orders fresh hearing

“The court had also dealt with all related issues concerning associations claiming they wanted to use the same symbol and colours. The court, in its judgment, overruled INEC when those issues were raised, and there is no appeal against that judgment.

“Therefore, we are surprised that, on an application by an association claiming that it wanted to register as a political party with the victory sign in 2015—an association that is not a registered political party and is not seeking registration now to participate in the current political process—His Lordship came to the conclusion that they have locus standi, and furthermore, that he has jurisdiction to do what he did.”

While acknowledging that the court set aside its earlier judgement, the NDC stressed that there was no order directing its deregistration.

“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,” the party said.

The party also condemned what it described as attempts to narrow Nigeria’s democratic space by frustrating opposition platforms, maintaining that citizens deserve a broad range of political choices ahead of the 2027 general election.