-
Party Heads to Court of Appeal
-
Obi Calls Ruling ‘Setback for Democracy’
The Federal High Court in Lokoja has set aside its earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party, nullifying all actions taken pursuant to the ruling and reopening the legal battle over the party’s registration.
Justice Isah Dashen, who delivered the ruling on Friday, held that the court’s judgment of December 10, 2025, adversely affected the rights of the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which was not joined in the original suit despite claiming ownership of the logo relied upon by the NDC in securing the court order.
The court consequently ordered all parties to revert to the position they occupied before the December 10, 2025 judgment and directed that all necessary parties be joined before the substantive matter is determined afresh.
Counsel to the applicant, C. S. Ekeocha, said the PMP approached the court after discovering that the NDC’s registration was founded on a logo it had earlier submitted to INEC before the commencement of the suit.
“The court has ordered all parties to return to the position they occupied before the judgment of December 10, 2025, and directed the claimants to join all necessary parties to ensure the issues in dispute are effectually and completely determined,” Ekeocha told journalists after the ruling.
According to him, the implication is that every action taken by INEC in compliance with the now-vacated judgment has been reversed.
“The recognition of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, the issuance of its certificate of registration, its inclusion in INEC’s records, and any appearance on ballot papers arising from that judgment must be withdrawn pending the final determination of the substantive suit,” he said.
Ekeocha, however, stressed that the substantive suit had not been concluded.
“The matter has not been concluded. The court merely set aside its previous judgment and directed that the party whose interests were affected be joined so that all sides can be heard before a fresh decision is reached,” he said.
He also dismissed suggestions that the court merely ordered parties to maintain the status quo, insisting that the ruling specifically restored the position that existed before the December 10, 2025 judgment.
The ruling effectively returns the dispute over the NDC’s registration to the Federal High Court for a fresh hearing, with all relevant parties participating.
- Peter Obi describes ruling as setback for democracy - June 26, 2026
- NDC rejects ruling, heads to Court of Appeal - June 26, 2026
- Fresh Trouble for NDC as Court Vacates Registration Judgment - June 26, 2026