By Peter Effiom
A Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, has reversed its December 2025 ruling recognizing the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party, just weeks after the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered INEC to deregister five other political parties, including the African Democratic Congress.
Justice Isah Dashen’s decision, which was delivered on Friday, June 26, 2026, overturned the earlier verdict that required the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the NDC.
In advance of the general elections in 2027, this has essentially put the NDC’s registration status in jeopardy.
An organization known as the Peace Movement Party (PMP) filed the complaint, which was on the verge of logo infringement.
Because the PMP, which asserts ownership of the emblem used by the NDC, was not included as a party in the initial lawsuit and was thus denied a fair hearing, the judge determined that the December 2025 ruling was unconstitutional.
The decision, which calls for a new hearing in which INEC, PMP, and the NDC must all take part, restores the status quo before December 2025 rather than imposing an absolute permanent ban.
Because of the ruling’s timeliness and the notable individuals implicated, there has been a considerable political controversy.
The NDC just confirmed former Labour Party flagbearer Peter Obi as its 2027 presidential candidate, with Rabiu Kwankwaso as his running mate. This will hurt the 2027 presidential contest. Both opposition figures might lose their official party platform if the nullification is upheld.
Obi has vehemently denounced the decision, accusing President Bola Tinubu’s administration of using court orders to thwart the opposition and undermine his 2027 presidential aspirations.
The verdict has been criticized by civil rights advocates like Omoyele Sowore and groups inside the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who have warned that it represents a deliberate attempt by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to turn Nigeria into a one-party state.
The Federal High Court’s decision to overturn an earlier ruling requiring its registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been sworn to be challenged by the NDC.
Senator Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, the National Chairman of the NDC, declared that the party has already given its legal team instructions to file an appeal before the Court of Appeal on Monday, June 29.
The party maintains that it is still a legally recognized political party in spite of the court’s decision, arguing that the court only overturned a prior registration order rather than issuing a clear “deregistration order,” and that their candidates’ nominations are still temporarily valid while the appeal is pending.
Discussions on Nigeria’s diminishing room for opposition politics have become more heated as a result of the recent court rulings.
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