Founder and National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Seriake Dickson, has condemned the Federal High Court ruling in Lokoja that paved the way for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to begin the process of withdrawing the party’s registration, describing the order as legally flawed, anti-democratic and a direct assault on Nigeria’s multi-party democracy.
Dickson, in a strongly worded statement issued on Friday, assured members and supporters that the NDC would immediately challenge the court decision through the appropriate judicial channels, expressing confidence that the ruling would ultimately be overturned.
The former Bayelsa State governor said he was “jolted” by the order delivered by Justice Isah Dashen of the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, insisting that the decision lacked legal merit and was aimed at undermining the credibility and growing influence of the NDC.
According to him, “The order lacks legal merit and is intended to affect the foundational credibility and efforts of our party.
”The order is illegal and will not stand. It is against multi-party democracy, anti-democratic in nature, and aimed at narrowing and stifling the democratic space.”
Dickson disclosed that the party had assembled a team of lawyers to seek an immediate reversal of the ruling, urging party faithful across the country to remain calm and continue with their political activities.
“This is only the first test of our commitment and resilience. Even this shall pass, and the NDC and all our candidates shall cruise to victory,” he declared.
The NDC leader argued that the legal action was initiated by an association that was neither a registered political party nor one of the groups that participated in INEC’s 2025 registration process.
He maintained that the association lacked the legal standing to challenge the party’s registration and was not a necessary party in the original suit.
“We know where this is coming from. It is coming from those who are shocked by the progress the NDC has made within such a short period as a result of our hard work and commitment to deepening multi-party democracy,” Dickson said.
The senator representing Bayelsa West further insisted that the court had committed what he described as a judicial error, promising that the party would pursue every lawful avenue to have the decision set aside.
“He has clearly erred in law, and we will take steps to correct it,” Dickson said of the trial judge.
Despite the setback, Dickson expressed optimism that the controversy would ultimately strengthen the party, claiming that thousands of Nigerians had registered as NDC members in solidarity following news of the court ruling.
Quoting what he described as one of his favourite sayings on struggles, Dickson declared: “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they attack you, then you win.”
He added that the current legal challenge represented the “attack” phase and expressed confidence that victory would eventually follow.
Dickson thanked Nigerians for their overwhelming confidence in the NDC, saying the support had reinforced the party’s determination to continue advocating for a stronger multi-party democratic system in the country.
The statement comes shortly after INEC announced that it had commenced steps to comply with the Federal High Court judgment by seeking the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the ruling that nullified the earlier judgment compelling the commission to register the NDC.
According to INEC, the latest court decision restored all parties to the positions they occupied before the December 10, 2025 judgment, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit challenging the party’s registration.
Meanwhile, INEC said it had commenced the process of complying with the court judgment by seeking the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the ruling before taking the necessary administrative steps.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, said the commission would obey the court’s decision once it obtained the CTC of the judgment.
Haruna explained that before the December 10, 2025 judgment directing INEC to register the NDC, the commission had rejected the party’s application for registration.
The latest ruling by the Federal High Court in Lokoja set aside the earlier judgment that compelled INEC to register the NDC after the Peace Movement Party (PMP) argued that it was not joined in the original suit despite claiming ownership of the logo allegedly adopted by the NDC.
Counsel to the PMP, C.S. Ekeocha, said the ruling effectively reversed all actions taken pursuant to the earlier judgment, including the registration of the NDC, issuance of its certificate, its inclusion in INEC’s records and any appearance on ballot papers.
The court also ordered that all parties return to the position they occupied before the December 10, 2025 judgment and directed that all necessary parties be joined in the substantive suit, which remains pending.
The final legal status of the NDC will be determined after the substantive case is heard and decided.
