Obi Slams ‘Bizarre’ Court Order as NDC Heads to Appeal Over Registration Setback

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has strongly rejected a Federal High Court ruling in Lokoja, Kogi State, which nullified an earlier judgment that compelled the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the party. The political organisation described the latest ruling as “bizarre” and announced plans to immediately challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal.

Addressing journalists in Abuja on Friday, NDC National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, insisted that the party remains legally recognised and that the judgment does not amount to deregistration. He assured supporters and the wider public that the NDC would participate in Nigeria’s 2027 presidential and general elections despite the legal setback.

The development marks a fresh twist in the dispute over the party’s registration, which has been the subject of litigation since INEC initially rejected the NDC’s application in 2025. The party maintains that its constitutional right to freedom of association had already been affirmed by the courts and that the latest order does not extinguish its legal standing.

Court Restores Pre-Registration Status, Cites Third-Party Rights

Justice Isah Dashen of the Federal High Court in Lokoja ruled that the court’s earlier judgment of December 10, 2025, adversely affected the interests of the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which claimed ownership of the logo used by the NDC in securing its registration. The PMP had not been joined as a party in the original proceedings, a factor the court considered significant enough to vacate the earlier ruling.

Counsel to the PMP, Mr. C. S. Ekeocha, said the court ordered all parties to return to the positions they occupied before the December 2025 judgment and directed that all necessary parties be joined in the substantive case. According to him, the implication is that every action taken by INEC in compliance with the earlier order—including the issuance of a registration certificate and the inclusion of the NDC in official records—must be reversed pending a fresh determination.

Ekeocha further clarified that the substantive dispute has not been concluded and that the latest judgment merely reopens the matter for a comprehensive hearing. He dismissed suggestions that the court had simply ordered parties to maintain the status quo, insisting that the ruling specifically restored the legal position that existed before the NDC’s registration.

INEC Awaits Judgment Copy as NDC Prepares Appeal

INEC has maintained a cautious position following the judgment, saying it has applied for the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the ruling and will take appropriate action upon receiving it. The electoral commission noted that prior to the now-vacated December 2025 judgment, it had rejected the NDC’s request for registration and would study the latest court pronouncement before making any further decisions.

The ruling effectively places the NDC’s legal status in uncertainty, with indications that the party could be delisted from INEC’s register pending the final resolution of the case. The commission now finds itself restored to the position it originally defended—that the NDC had not met the requirements for registration as a political party.

Reacting to the court’s decision, Senator Zuwoghe argued that the Federal High Court had become functus officio after delivering its initial judgment and questioned its jurisdiction to revisit the matter through a motion. He also contended that the Peace Movement Party is neither a registered political party nor an association currently seeking registration under INEC’s ongoing process.

The NDC has consequently directed its legal team to challenge the latest ruling at the Court of Appeal, contesting both the jurisdiction of the court and the propriety of setting aside its earlier judgment. Party leaders have reiterated their confidence that the legal process will ultimately affirm their registration and guarantee their participation in Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 polls.