Fresh Twist as Court Nullifies Judgment That Recognised NDC as Political Party

A Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja has set aside its earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party, reopening the legal battle over the party’s recognition.

Justice Isah Dashen ruled that the December 10, 2025 judgment was constitutionally defective because it was delivered without hearing all parties whose interests were directly affected by the case. According to the court, the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which claims prior ownership of the logo used by the NDC, ought to have been joined in the suit before the earlier decision was made.

The court consequently vacated the previous judgment, restored the status quo that existed before the December 2025 ruling, and ordered that the substantive suit should begin afresh with INEC, the PMP, and the NDC as parties to the case.

Counsel to the applicant, Chikezie Ekeocha, explained that the PMP approached the court after discovering that the NDC’s registration was based on a logo it had earlier submitted to INEC before the commencement of the original suit. He said the court agreed that the party’s rights were affected by the earlier proceedings.

The latest ruling effectively puts the NDC’s registration on hold pending the outcome of the fresh hearing, where all interested parties will have the opportunity to present their cases before the court reaches a final decision.