The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has vowed to challenge a ruling of the Federal High Court in Lokoja that set aside its December 2025 judgment compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the party.
Justice Isah Dashen, in a ruling delivered on Friday, granted an application filed by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), an association claiming it had sought registration with the same “Victory” symbol in 2015.
The court subsequently set aside its earlier judgment that had ordered INEC to register the NDC.
Reacting to the development, the NDC, through its National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, described the ruling as legally flawed, insisting that the court had become functus officio after delivering its final judgment in December 2025 and therefore lacked jurisdiction to revisit the case through a motion.
The party stressed that the ruling did not order its deregistration and maintained that it remains a legally registered political party.
According to the NDC, it has since conducted nationwide congresses and conventions, registered members across the country, participated in INEC activities, fielded candidates in recent by-elections in Nasarawa and Enugu states, and concluded primaries for the 2027 general elections.
The NDC argued that the Peace Movement Party is neither a registered political party nor an association currently seeking registration under INEC’s ongoing exercise.
It further maintained that if the group was dissatisfied with the December 2025 judgment, its only legal remedy was to file an appeal within the stipulated time, rather than seek to overturn the judgment through a fresh motion.
The party announced that its legal team has been instructed to immediately approach the Court of Appeal to challenge the ruling, expressing confidence that the appellate court would restore the earlier judgment.
While reassuring its candidates, members and supporters, the NDC insisted that all nominations already conducted remain valid and urged Nigerians not to be misled by reports suggesting the party had been deregistered.
The party also condemned what it described as attempts to use the judiciary to narrow Nigeria’s democratic space, insisting that opposition parties must be allowed to participate freely in the 2027 general election process.
