Court Order: NDC Heads To Appeal, Insists It Remains Registered Party
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has rejected a ruling of the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja which set aside an earlier judgment compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register it as a political party, insisting that it remains legally recognized and will immediately challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal.
In a statement issued on Friday and signed by Sen. Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, National Chairman of the NDC, the party said the court’s latest decision did not order its deregistration and therefore does not affect its status as a registered political party.
The NDC was reacting to a ruling delivered by Justice Isah Dashen on an application filed by an association known as the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which reportedly sought to set aside the court’s December 2025 judgment that directed INEC to register the NDC.
According to the party, it approached the Federal High Court in December 2025 after INEC declined to register it, and the court upheld its constitutional right to freedom of association and ordered the electoral commission to grant it registration.
The party stated that following its registration by INEC, it had actively participated in the nation’s political process, including membership registration, ward, local government, state and national congresses, conventions, and primary elections conducted in line with INEC’s timetable.
It added that it also fielded candidates in the recent by-elections in Nasarawa and Enugu states and had already 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 is neither a registered political party nor an association currently seeking registration under INEC’s ongoing registration exercise.
It further contended that the Federal High Court had become functus officio after delivering its final judgment in the matter and had already resolved issues relating to the use of the party’s symbol and colours.
The party maintained that no appeal was filed against the December 2025 judgment and questioned the jurisdiction of the court to revisit its earlier decision through what it described as a mere motion.
While expressing dissatisfaction with the ruling, the NDC said it had instructed its legal team to immediately file an appeal challenging both the jurisdiction of the court and the propriety of the latest order.
“There was no order directing our deregistration. 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 individuals of attempting to use the judiciary to narrow Nigeria’s democratic space and suppress opposition voices.
According to the NDC, Nigerians deserve a broad range of political choices, and no effort should be made to frustrate alternative political platforms as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum.
It argued that if the Peace Movement Party believed it was affected by the earlier judgment, its proper remedy was to file an appeal within the prescribed time, adding that any such appeal would now be statute-barred.
The party described the attempt to overturn the earlier judgment through a motion as “illegal” and “an outright abuse of court process.”
The NDC assured its candidates, members and supporters that all nominations already made remain valid and expressed confidence that the appellate court would overturn the ruling.
