Reacting to the development, the NDC said it had instructed its legal team to immediately challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal, maintaining that the party had not been deregistered.
In a statement issued on Friday, Sen. Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, the national chairman of the party said it was compelled to approach the Federal High Court in 2025 after INEC refused to register it as a political party, adding that the court upheld its constitutional right to freedom of association and ordered the electoral commission to register it.
The party said it had since commenced full political activities, including membership registration, congresses, conventions, participation in INEC activities and the conduct of primaries for the 2027 general elections.
It also stated that it fielded candidates in the recent bye-elections in Nasarawa and Enugu states and had already nominated candidates for the House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, governorship, presidential and vice-presidential elections.
The NDC argued that the PMP, which brought the application, was neither a registered political party nor an association currently seeking registration.
“The Peace Movement Party (PMP) is not a registered political party in Nigeria. They claimed, in a motion (not even a substantive suit or appeal), that the court should set aside its earlier judgment on the purported ground that, in 2015, they had sought registration as a political party with the victory sign as their symbol and were denied,” said Zuwoghe.
The party further contended that the Federal High Court had become functus officio after delivering its final judgment and had already addressed issues relating to associations claiming similar symbols and colours.
It said there was no appeal against the earlier judgment and questioned the court’s jurisdiction to entertain the fresh application.
“Accordingly, we have been informed that His Lordship made an order setting aside the court’s earlier decision of December 2025,” the statement said.
The party maintained that the court did not order its deregistration.
“There was no order directing our deregistration. However, we are dissatisfied with the decision that has been made, and we have instructed our team of lawyers to immediately proceed to the Court of Appeal to challenge the jurisdiction and propriety of His Lordship’s order,” it stated.
The NDC assured its members and candidates that its political activities would continue.
According to Zuwoghe, “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. We have no doubt that justice will be done.”
The party also accused unnamed individuals of attempting to undermine democratic competition.
“We condemn efforts by those who seek to shrink the democratic space and stifle opposition voices and alternatives. Nigerians have a right to a full range of opinions, ideas, and alternatives, and political platforms and candidates should be allowed to participate in the 2027 general election process, which has already gone midway,” Zuwoghe added.
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