A 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.
The party has Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as presidential and vice-presidential candidates respectively,for the 2027 election, with the duo being among opposition political heavyweights seeking to unseat President Bola Tinubu.
Ruling today in the Kogi State capital, Justice Isah Dashen held that the earlier judgment affected the rights of a political association, Peace Movement Party (PMP), which was not included in the case despite claiming ownership of NDC’s logo.
The PMP is an active political association and prospective political party currently in the process of seeking official registration with INEC as a full-fledged political party.
Explaining why his association went to court, lawyer to PMP, C.S. Ekeocha, said they approached the court after discovering that NDC’s registration was allegedly based on a logo it (PMP) had earlier submitted to INEC before the case began.
“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,” he said.
To him, the ruling means all actions taken by INEC based on the earlier judgment have been reversed, saying “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registration, its inclusion in INEC’s records, and any appearance on ballot papers arising from that judgment must be withdrawn pending the final determination of the substantive suit.”
The lawyer added that the main case is still before the court, stressing that today’s ruling was not definitive.
His words: “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.”
The dispute over NDC’s registration will return to the Federal High Court for fresh hearing with all relevant parties, including PMP, participating.
NDC was in a process of issuing a statement on the development, as of press time.
