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The Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) has vowed to challenge the Lokoja High Court ruling that set aside its earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the party, insisting its registration remains valid pending the outcome of its appeal.
In a statement issued on Friday, NDC National Chairman, Moses Cleopas, said the party would immediately approach the Court of Appeal to contest the ruling delivered by Justice Isah Dashen.
NDC STATEMENT ON COURT RULING
Our attention has been drawn to a ruling by the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja this morning, wherein His Lordship, Honourable Justice Isah Dashen, gave a ruling on an application filed by an unregistered association known as Peace Movement… pic.twitter.com/acGmGhSPlE
— Nigeria Democratic Congress (@NigeriaNDCHQ) June 26, 2026
Cleopas maintained that the NDC had not been deregistered and assured members, candidates and supporters that the party’s activities would continue uninterrupted.
He argued that the party was surprised by the judgment because the applicant, the Peace Movement Party, was neither a registered political party nor part of the registration process. He also questioned the trial court’s jurisdiction to set aside its earlier judgment after delivering a final decision.
“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.
“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.
The NDC chairman also accused unnamed individuals of using the courts to suppress opposition parties, insisting Nigerians deserve a broad range of political alternatives ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“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 stated.
He described the application that resulted in the ruling as an abuse of court process, arguing that any aggrieved party should have appealed the original judgment instead of seeking to overturn it through a motion.
The party’s leadership convened an emergency press conference at its national secretariat in Abuja following the ruling.
Justice Dashen had on Friday set aside the court’s December 10, 2025 judgment directing INEC to register the NDC, holding that the decision adversely affected the rights of the Peace Movement Party, which claimed ownership of the logo used in securing the registration but was not joined in the suit.
Counsel to the applicant, C.S. Ekeocha, said the court ordered all parties to return to the position they occupied before the December 10 judgment and directed that all necessary parties be joined before the substantive suit is heard afresh.
He added that the ruling effectively nullified actions taken by INEC under the earlier judgment, including recognising the NDC and issuing its certificate of registration, pending a fresh hearing of the case.
