NDC rejects court ruling on INEC registration, heads to Appeal Court

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has rejected the judgement of the Federal High Court in Lokoja setting aside its registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), declaring that it will immediately challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal.

The party insisted that it had not been deregistered and assured its members, candidates and supporters that its political activities would continue uninterrupted despite Friday’s court decision.

NDC National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas, disclosed this in a statement issued shortly after Justice Isah Dashen nullified the court’s December 10, 2025 judgement, which had compelled INEC to register the party.

Cleopas described the ruling as surprising, arguing that the applicant, the Peace Movement Party (PMP), was neither a registered political party nor a participant in the ongoing registration process.

He further contended that the trial court had become functus officio after delivering its final judgement and therefore lacked the jurisdiction to set aside its earlier decision through a motion.

“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,” he said.

The NDC chairman reassured party faithful that the judgement did not invalidate its candidates or halt its preparations for the 2027 general election.

“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,” he added.

Cleopas also accused unnamed forces of using the courts to undermine opposition parties, warning against attempts to narrow Nigeria’s democratic space.

“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,” he said.

He described the application that led to the ruling as “illegal and an outright abuse of court process,” maintaining that any aggrieved party ought to have challenged the original judgement at the Court of Appeal rather than seek to overturn it through a fresh motion before the same court.

The party’s leadership later convened an emergency press conference at its national secretariat in Abuja to review the implications of the ruling.

Justice Dashen had earlier set aside the December 10, 2025 judgement directing INEC to register the NDC, holding that the earlier decision adversely affected the rights of the Peace Movement Party, which claimed ownership of the logo relied upon in securing the judgement but was not joined as a party in the suit.

Counsel to the applicant, C.S. Ekeocha, said the court ordered all parties to revert to the position they occupied before the December 10 judgement and directed that all necessary parties be joined before the substantive suit is heard afresh.

According to him, the ruling effectively reverses every action taken by INEC pursuant to the earlier judgement, including the recognition of the NDC and the issuance of its certificate of registration, pending a fresh determination of the case.