NDC Rejects Court Ruling, Heads to Appeal Over Registration Dispute

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has rejected a Federal High Court ruling in Lokoja that set aside its earlier registration judgment, insisting that the party remains legally registered and will challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal.

In a statement, the party said the ruling was delivered by Justice Isah Dashen on an application filed by an association known as the Peace Movement Party (PMP). According to the NDC, the association is neither a registered political party nor part of the current political registration process.

The party recalled that it approached the Federal High Court in December 2025 after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declined to register it. It said the court upheld its constitutional right to freedom of association and ordered INEC to register the party, a directive that was subsequently carried out.

The NDC stated that since its registration, it has conducted membership registration, held ward, local government, state and national congresses, organised its national convention, completed party primaries, and participated fully in INEC activities. It also said it fielded candidates in the recent bye-elections held in Nasarawa and Enugu states.

According to the party, candidates have already been nominated for the State Houses of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, Governorship, Presidential and Vice-Presidential elections, and their names are being submitted to INEC in line with the electoral timetable.

The party argued that the Federal High Court had already delivered a final judgment in its case against INEC and therefore lacked jurisdiction to revisit the matter. It further stated that the latest ruling did not order the deregistration of the NDC but only set aside the earlier judgment. Consequently, the party said it had instructed its legal team to immediately appeal the decision.

The NDC assured its members, candidates and supporters that it remains a registered political party and expressed confidence that the Court of Appeal would overturn the ruling. The party also condemned what it described as attempts to restrict the democratic space, insisting that Nigerians should be free to choose from a wide range of political parties and candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.