The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has rejected a ruling of the Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, which set aside an earlier judgment that compelled the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the party, insisting that it remains a legally recognised political platform and will challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal.
In a statement issued on Friday and signed by its National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, the party said it was surprised by the ruling delivered by Justice Isah Dashen on an application filed by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), an association it described as unregistered and unknown to the NDC.
According to the party, it had approached the Federal High Court in December 2025 over INEC’s refusal to register it as a political party. The court subsequently ruled in its favour, affirming its constitutional right to freedom of association and directing INEC to register the NDC.
The party said that since securing registration, it has actively participated in the political process, including conducting membership registration, congresses, national conventions and party primaries in line with INEC’s timetable.
The NDC also noted that it fielded candidates in recent bye-elections held in Nasarawa and Enugu states and has already nominated candidates for various elective positions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Reacting to Friday’s ruling, the party argued that the Peace Movement Party was neither a registered political party nor an association currently seeking registration under the ongoing political process. It further maintained that the court had already addressed issues relating to party symbols and colours during the original proceedings.
The NDC questioned the jurisdiction of the court to revisit a matter on which it had already delivered final judgment, arguing that the court had become functus officio and that any aggrieved party ought to have pursued an appeal rather than seek to overturn the judgment through a motion.
While acknowledging that the court set aside its earlier judgment, the party stressed that no order was made directing its deregistration.
READ ALSO: Federal High Court Nullifies NDC Registration, Reopens Case
“We have instructed our legal team to immediately approach the Court of Appeal to challenge the jurisdiction and propriety of the order,” the statement said.
The party reassured its members, supporters and candidates that its operations would continue uninterrupted, insisting that all nominations already made remain valid pending the outcome of the appeal.
The NDC also accused unnamed interests of attempting to narrow Nigeria’s democratic space and suppress opposition voices ahead of the 2027 elections.
It maintained that Nigerians deserve a broad range of political alternatives and warned against what it described as efforts to use the judiciary to limit participation in the country’s multi-party democracy.
The party expressed confidence that the appellate court would overturn the ruling and pledged to continue pursuing its political activities while the legal challenge proceeds.