The Federal High Court in Lokoja has overturned its earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party.
In a ruling delivered on Friday, Justice Isah Dashen set aside the court’s December 10, 2025, judgment, saying it affected the rights of the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which was not joined in the original suit despite claiming ownership of the logo used in the NDC’s registration process.
According to the court, all affected parties must be given the opportunity to present their case before a final decision is made.
The court ordered all parties to return to the position they occupied before the December 10, 2025 judgment and directed that all necessary parties be joined in the case.
Counsel to the applicant, C.S. Ekeocha, explained that the Peace Movement Party approached the court after discovering that the logo used to secure the NDC’s registration had earlier been submitted to INEC by the PMP.
He said the ruling means every action taken by INEC based on the now-vacated judgment must be reversed.
According to him, the recognition of the NDC, its certificate of registration, its inclusion in INEC’s records and any other actions arising from the earlier judgment are to be withdrawn pending the outcome of the fresh hearing.
Ekeocha, however, clarified that the substantive case has not been decided, stressing that the court only vacated its previous judgment to allow all interested parties to be heard before reaching a new decision.
The ruling effectively sends the dispute over the registration of the NDC back to the Federal High Court for a fresh hearing.
Source: Federal High Court, Lokoja
