NDC rejects Lokoja Court ruling, heads to Appeal Court

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has rejected the Federal High Court ruling in Lokoja, Kogi State, which set aside an earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register it as a political party, insisting it remains a registered political party and will immediately challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal.

In a statement issued on Friday, the party described the ruling delivered by Justice Isah Dashen as surprising and legally questionable.

The court had earlier nullified its December 2025 judgment that compelled INEC to register the NDC after an application by an association known as the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which claimed ownership of the logo used by the NDC.

Reacting to the ruling, the NDC argued that the PMP is neither a registered political party nor an association participating in the current political process.

“The association that filed the complaint is unknown to us. The Peace Movement Party (PMP) is not a registered political party in Nigeria,” the party stated.

According to the NDC, following its registration by INEC, it had already embarked on extensive political activities, including nationwide membership registration, ward, local government, state and national congresses, a national convention, primary elections and participation in bye-elections held in Nasarawa and Enugu states.

“Since then, we have started political activities, embarked on the registration of members, held congresses from ward to national levels, held conventions, and concluded primaries to all offices following INEC’s timetable,” the statement read.

The party added that it had produced candidates for governorship, National Assembly, presidential and vice-presidential positions and was preparing to submit their names to INEC in line with the electoral timetable.

Questioning the legal basis of the latest ruling, the NDC maintained that the Federal High Court had already delivered a final judgment in the matter and had become functus officio, arguing that it no longer had jurisdiction to revisit the case.

“Therefore, we are surprised that, on an application by an association claiming that it wanted to register as a political party with the victory sign in 2015, His Lordship came to the conclusion that they have locus standi, and furthermore, that he has jurisdiction to do what he did,” the party stated.

The NDC insisted that the judgment did not amount to its deregistration and assured members, supporters and candidates that its activities would continue uninterrupted.

“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.

“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,” the statement added.

The party also accused unnamed individuals of attempting to weaken opposition politics ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“We condemn efforts by those who seek to shrink the democratic space and stifle opposition voices and alternatives,” the NDC said.

Justice Dashen had ruled that the December 10, 2025 judgment adversely affected the rights of the PMP, which claimed ownership of the disputed logo but was not joined in the original suit. The court consequently ordered that all parties be restored to the position they occupied before the December judgment and directed that all necessary parties be joined before the substantive case proceeds.