NDC Fights Back: To Appeal Court Ruling on Registration Dispute
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has officially rejected the Federal High Court ruling in Lokoja that set aside a previous judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the party, firmly insisting that it remains a legally recognized political entity as it kicks off the formal appeals process to overturn the decision.
Reacting to the development in an official statement on Friday, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) acknowledged the new ruling delivered by Justice Isah Dashen. The party noted that the decision followed an application filed by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), an association the NDC dismissed as completely unregistered and entirely unknown to its leadership.
The NDC recalled that its legal status was firmly established in December 2025 when it successfully challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) refusal to grant it registration. In that definitive December lawsuit, the Federal High Court upheld the group's constitutional right to freedom of association and explicitly ordered the electoral umpire to register it as a full-fledged political party.
Following its initial registration, the NDC aggressively expanded its nationwide presence by executing comprehensive political operations in strict alignment with INEC's official timetable. These foundational activities included rolling out nationwide membership registration, holding democratic congresses from the ward level up to the national stage, hosting its national convention, and successfully conducting primary elections to select flagbearers for all elective positions.
Demonstrating its active status, the party fielded candidates in the recent by-elections across Nasarawa and Enugu states to solidify its electoral footprint. Furthermore, the NDC has already finalized and submitted its official nominations for the upcoming general elections, covering legislative and executive positions from the House of Assembly, House of Representatives, and Senate up to the governorship, presidential, and vice-presidential races.
In its official statement, the NDC emphasized that it is currently finalizing the formal submission of its candidate roster to INEC in strict compliance with the statutory electoral timetable. The party fiercely contested the legal standing of the Peace Movement Party (PMP), asserting that the group is neither a registered political entity nor an active applicant in the ongoing registration cycle. The NDC pointed out that the PMP's entire grievance relies on a stale 2015 claim—where INEC allegedly denied them registration for using a similar "victory sign" symbol—which bears no relevance to the current political landscape.
Furthermore, the NDC maintained that the Federal High Court had already definitively resolved all disputes regarding the party’s logo and colors in its initial landmark judgment. Because that original decision was never appealed by any party, the NDC argues that the ruling remains legally binding and settled. Consequently, the party views this sudden legal challenge as an invalid attempt to disrupt its established constitutional rights and electoral progress.
The NDC strongly argued that the trial court had become functus officio upon delivering its initial final judgment, meaning it completely lacked the jurisdiction to revisit or alter the case. The party emphasized that while the court reportedly set aside that previous ruling, it issued absolutely no order directing the deregistration of the NDC. Consequently, leadership has instructed its legal team to immediately file an appeal challenging both the trial court’s jurisdiction and the legal propriety of this latest order. Assuring the public and its candidates that its election plans remain firmly on course, the party vowed that justice will ultimately prevail at the Court of Appeal.
Furthermore, the NDC vehemently condemned the ruling as a calculated attempt by adversarial forces to shrink Nigeria's democratic space and stifle opposition voices. The statement declared that citizens possess a fundamental right to a diverse range of political opinions, ideas, and alternatives. With the 2027 general election cycle already midway through its timeline, the NDC insisted that all legitimate political platforms and their candidates must be allowed to participate freely without judicial interference.