The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has rejected a ruling of the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja that reportedly set aside an earlier judgment compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the party, insisting that it remains a legally registered political party and will immediately challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal.
In a statement signed by its National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, the party said the ruling, delivered on Friday by Justice Isah Dashen, arose from an application filed by an unregistered 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 registration exercise being conducted by INEC.
The party recalled that in December 2025, it approached the Federal High Court after INEC allegedly refused to register it as a political party.
It said the court upheld its constitutional right to freedom of association and ordered INEC to register it, a directive the electoral commission subsequently complied with.
Since its registration, the NDC said it has carried out nationwide political activities, including membership registration, ward, local government, state and national congresses, conventions and primary elections in line with INEC’s timetable.
The party also stated that it participated in the recent by-elections in Nasarawa and Enugu states and has nominated candidates for the House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, governorship, presidential and vice-presidential elections ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The NDC argued that the Peace Movement Party’s application was based on a claim that it had sought registration as a political party in 2015 using the “victory sign” as its symbol but was denied registration by INEC.
According to the statement, the NDC believes the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the application because it had already delivered a final judgment in the matter and had become functus officio.
The party further maintained that issues relating to the use of its symbol and colours had already been determined in the earlier judgment and that no appeal was filed against that decision within the legally prescribed period.
Expressing surprise over the latest ruling, the NDC questioned the court’s decision to grant the applicant locus standi and to set aside its earlier judgment through what it described as a motion rather than a substantive suit or an appeal.
“Accordingly, we have been informed that His Lordship made an order setting aside the court’s earlier decision of December 2025,” the statement said.
The party, however, stressed that the court did not order its deregistration.
“There was no order directing our deregistration.
”However, we are dissatisfied with the decision and have instructed our lawyers to immediately proceed to the Court of Appeal to challenge the jurisdiction and propriety of the order,” it stated.
The NDC reassured its candidates, members and supporters that its political activities would continue uninterrupted, insisting that all nominations already conducted remain valid pending the outcome of the 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. We have no doubt that justice will be done, ” the statement said.
The party also accused unnamed interests of attempting to narrow Nigeria’s democratic space by using the courts to frustrate opposition parties 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, ” the statement added.
It argued that if the Peace Movement Party believed it was affected by the earlier judgment, the proper legal remedy would have been to file an appeal rather than seek to overturn the decision through a motion.
Describing the application as “an abuse of court process,” the NDC expressed confidence that the Court of Appeal would overturn the ruling and reaffirm its legal status.
”We thank Nigerians for their support, and we thank all our candidates, members and supporters for their confidence and trust in the party.
”We assure them that all nominations made remain valid, that our platform is strong and legal, and that justice will be served, ” the party said.
As of the time of filing this report, INEC had not issued an official response to the court ruling or the NDC’s statement, while the Peace Movement Party had not publicly reacted to the party’s claims.
