Court Nullifies NDC Registration and Reverses INEC Recognition

(NDC. Photo by Daily Trust)

A Federal High Court in Lokoja has overturned its previous judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, as a political party, effectively reversing all actions taken as a result of that ruling.

In a judgment delivered on Friday, Justice Isah Dashen held that the court’s December 10, 2025 decision had affected the rights of the Peace Movement Party, PMP, which was not joined in the suit despite claiming ownership of the logo used by the NDC.

Speaking to journalists after the ruling, counsel to the PMP, C.S. Ekeocha, explained that the party approached the court after discovering that the NDC’s registration was based on a logo it had earlier submitted to INEC before the legal proceedings began.

The court found merit in the party’s application and consequently set aside the earlier judgment.

The court also ordered all parties to revert to the position they were in before the December 10, 2025 ruling and directed the claimants to include every necessary party in the case to ensure all issues are fully determined.

Ekeocha stated that the decision means every step taken by INEC in compliance with the earlier judgment including the recognition of the NDC, the issuance of its certificate of registration, its inclusion in INEC’s records, and any appearance on ballot papers must be withdrawn pending the final determination of the substantive suit.

He clarified that the case itself has not been concluded, noting that the court only vacated its earlier judgment to allow all affected parties to be heard before a fresh decision is made.

He also dismissed claims that the court merely ordered parties to maintain the status quo, insisting that the ruling specifically restored the position that existed before the December 10, 2025 judgment.