By Ayomide Otitoju
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has rejected a Federal High Court ruling setting aside an earlier judgment that compelled the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register it as a political party, insisting it remains legally recognised and has not been deregistered.
In a statement issued on Friday and signed by its National Chairman, Moses Zuwoghe, the party said it would challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal.
The NDC explained that the judgment stemmed from an application filed by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which it described as an unregistered association unknown to the party.
According to the NDC, it secured a Federal High Court judgment in December 2025 directing INEC to register it after the electoral body allegedly failed to act on its application.
The party said that following its registration, it carried out nationwide membership registration, conducted ward, local government, state and national congresses, held its national convention, concluded party primaries in line with INEC’s timetable and participated in recent bye-elections in Nasarawa and Enugu states.
It added that it had also nominated candidates for House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, governorship and presidential elections and was in the process of submitting their names to INEC.
The party assured its members, supporters and candidates that its political activities would continue while it pursues an appeal against the latest court decision.
“The NDC has not been deregistered, and we are challenging today’s order at the Court of Appeal. We have no doubt that justice will be done,” the statement said.
The party accused unnamed interests of attempting to narrow Nigeria’s democratic space and frustrate opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
It argued that the Federal High Court had become functus officio after delivering its final judgment in the earlier case and therefore lacked the jurisdiction to revisit the matter through a motion.
The NDC further maintained that the Peace Movement Party lacked the legal standing to seek the setting aside of the earlier judgment, arguing that the appropriate remedy would have been an appeal, adding that the statutory period for such an appeal had already elapsed.
The party expressed confidence that the Court of Appeal would overturn the ruling and reaffirm the legality of its registration.
Meanwhile, the Federal High Court in Lokoja on Friday set aside its December 10, 2025 judgment directing INEC to register the NDC as a political party, effectively nullifying all actions taken pursuant to that ruling.
Justice Isah Dashen held that the earlier judgment adversely affected the rights of the Peace Movement Party, which claimed ownership of the logo relied upon by the NDC in securing the registration order but was not joined as a party in the original suit.
