The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has vowed to challenge a Federal High Court ruling that set aside an earlier judgment ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register it as a political party.
In a statement issued on Friday, the party described the decision of Justice Isah Dashen of the Federal High Court in Lokoja as unexpected and legally questionable, insisting that it remains a duly registered political party.
The court had overturned its December 2025 judgment after an application by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), an association that claimed ownership of the logo the NDC used during its registration process.
Reacting to the ruling, the NDC said the PMP was neither a registered political party nor an organisation actively participating in the current political process.
“The association that filed the complaint is unknown to us. The Peace Movement Party is not a registered political party in Nigeria,” the party stated.
The NDC noted that following the original court order directing INEC to register it, the party had carried out a series of political activities, including membership registration, ward, local government, state and national congresses, as well as a national convention and primary elections.
According to the party, it has already produced candidates for various positions, including governorship, National Assembly, presidential and vice-presidential offices, and is preparing to submit their names to INEC in line with the electoral timetable.
The party questioned the court’s decision to revisit a matter on which it had already delivered judgment, arguing that the court had become functus officio and no longer had jurisdiction to alter its earlier ruling.
“Therefore, we are surprised that, on an application by an association claiming that it sought to register as a political party with the victory sign in 2015, the court concluded that it had locus standi and that it possessed the jurisdiction to make the order it did,” the statement said.
The NDC stressed that the ruling did not amount to a deregistration of the party and assured members, supporters and candidates that its activities would continue uninterrupted.
“There was no order directing our deregistration. However, we are dissatisfied with the decision and have instructed our legal team to immediately approach the Court of Appeal,” the party said.
“We want to assure the public, especially our candidates at all levels, that the NDC remains on course. The party has not been deregistered, and we are challenging the ruling at the appellate court without delay.”
The party also accused unnamed interests of attempting to weaken opposition politics and narrow the democratic space ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“We condemn every effort aimed at shrinking democratic participation and silencing alternative political voices,” it added.
Justice Dashen, in his ruling, held that the earlier judgment affected the interests of the PMP, which was not joined as a party in the original suit despite its claim to the disputed logo.
The court subsequently ordered all parties to return to the status quo before the December 2025 judgment and directed that all relevant parties be included in the substantive case.
