The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced plans to challenge a ruling of the Federal High Court in Lokoja, which reportedly set aside an earlier judgment that compelled the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the party.
In a statement issued on Friday, the NDC said the ruling, delivered by Justice Isah Dashen, followed an application filed by an association identified as the Peace Movement Party (PMP).
According to the party, it had approached the Federal High Court in December 2025 after INEC declined to register it as a political party. It said the court ruled in its favour, affirming its constitutional right to freedom of association and directing INEC to register it, a directive the electoral commission subsequently complied with.
The NDC said it had since commenced full political activities, including the registration of members, conduct of congresses from the ward to national level, conventions, and party primaries in line with INEC’s timetable.
It added that it participated in the recent bye elections in Nasarawa and Enugu states and had nominated candidates for the House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, governorship, presidential and vice presidential elections.
Reacting to the latest court decision, the party questioned the legal standing of the applicant.
“The Peace Movement Party (PMP) is not a registered political party in Nigeria,” the statement said. “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.”
The NDC further argued that the court had already reached a final decision in its earlier case against INEC and had become “functus officio,” adding that issues relating to the use of the party’s symbol and colours had already been determined in the previous judgment.
According to the party, “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.”
The party also sought to reassure its members and candidates that its status had not changed.
“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,” it stated.
The NDC also accused unnamed individuals of attempting to weaken political opposition.
“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,” the statement added.
The court and INEC had not issued any response to the NDC’s claims at the time of filing this report.
