Obi slams ‘bizarre’ court order, NDC heads to appeal

By Clifford Ndujihe, Henry Umoru, Omeiza Ajayi, Boluwaji Obahopo, Juliet Umeh & Gift Chapi Odekina

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has rejected the judgment of a Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, nullifying its earlier order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the party, pending the resolution of all legal issues surrounding the matter.

The party said it would head to the Court of Appeal and assured Nigerians that the NDC would be on the ballot for the 2027 presidential and general elections.

Addressing journalists in Abuja on Friday, the NDC National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, took a swipe at the court’s judgment, insisting that the party remains legally recognised and would immediately challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal.

According to him, the court’s latest decision did not order the party’s deregistration and therefore does not affect its status as a registered political party.

Federal High Court order

A Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja yesterday set aside its earlier judgment ordering INEC to register the NDC as a political party, effectively nullifying all actions taken pursuant to that ruling.

Justice Isah Dashen, who delivered the ruling, held that the court’s December 10, 2025 judgment adversely affected the rights of the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which was not joined as a party in the suit despite claiming ownership of the logo relied upon in obtaining the judgment.

Counsel to the applicant, PMP, Mr C. S. Ekeocha, told journalists that the party approached the court after discovering that the NDC’s registration was based on a logo it had previously submitted to INEC before the commencement of the suit.

According to Ekeocha, the court agreed that the applicant’s rights had been affected and consequently vacated the earlier judgment.

“The court has ordered all parties to return to the position they occupied before the judgment of December 10, 2025, and directed the claimants to join all necessary parties to ensure the issues in dispute are effectually and completely determined,” he said.

He explained that the implication of the ruling is that every action taken by INEC in compliance with the now-vacated judgment stands reversed.

“The recognition of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, the issuance of its certificate of registration, its inclusion in INEC’s records, and any appearance on ballot papers arising from that judgment must be withdrawn pending the final determination of the substantive suit,” Ekeocha stated.

He, however, clarified that the substantive case remains before the court and has not been decided.

“The matter has not been concluded. The court merely set aside its previous judgment and directed that the party whose interests were affected be joined so that all sides can be heard before a fresh decision is reached.”

Ekeocha also dismissed suggestions that the court merely ordered parties to maintain the status quo, insisting that the ruling specifically directed a restoration of the position that existed before the December 10, 2025 judgment.

The ruling effectively returns the dispute over the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress to the Federal High Court for a fresh hearing. 

INEC keeps mum

Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is set to delist the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, from its register of political parties and restore the position it held before a now-vacated court order compelled it to recognise the party, following a Federal High Court ruling that nullified the NDC’s registration.

INEC, which had originally rejected the NDC’s letter of intent to be registered as a political party before a December 2025 court judgment overruled that decision, said on Friday it had applied for the Certified True Copy CTC of the latest ruling and would act accordingly upon receipt.

“We have applied for the Certified True Copy of the judgment. Until we receive it we cannot be in a position to comment on it. However, the position that existed before the December 20, 2025 judgment was that INEC rejected NDC’s letter of intent to be registered as a party,” INEC National Commissioner in charge of Information, Mohammed Kudu Haruna told Saturday Vanguard. 

The ruling, delivered on Friday by Justice Isah Dashen of the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, set aside the court’s earlier December 10, 2025 judgment that had directed INEC to register the NDC as a political party, effectively restoring the Commission’s original stance and nullifying every action taken pursuant to that order.

The court found that the earlier judgment had adversely affected the rights of the Peace Movement Party PMP, which was not joined as a party in the suit despite claiming ownership of the logo the Nigeria Democratic Congress relied upon to obtain its registration.

Counsel to the PMP, Barrister C. S. Ekeocha, told journalists after the ruling that the implications for the NDC were far-reaching and immediate.

“The recognition of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, the issuance of its certificate of registration, its inclusion in INEC’s records, and any appearance on ballot papers arising from that judgment must be withdrawn pending the final determination of the substantive suit,” he said.

Ekeocha dismissed suggestions that the court had merely ordered parties to maintain the status quo, insisting that the ruling went further by specifically directing a restoration of the position that existed before the December 10, 2025 judgment — the very position in which INEC had rejected the NDC’s registration bid outright.

With the substantive case now returning to the Federal High Court for a fresh hearing and all necessary parties to be joined, INEC finds itself legally restored to the position it originally defended — that the NDC did not meet the threshold for registration as a political party in Nigeria.

NDC reacts

Reacting, Cleopas Zuwoghe, flanked by other members of the National Working Committee (NWC), said the party approached the Federal High Court in December 2025 after INEC declined to register it. He recalled that the court upheld its constitutional right to freedom of association and ordered the electoral commission to register the party, which it subsequently did.

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.

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 also maintained that the Federal High Court had become functus officio after delivering its final judgment and had already resolved issues relating to the use of the party’s symbol and colours.

The party further 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.

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.

“We condemn efforts by those who seek to shrink the democratic space and stifle opposition voices and alternatives. Nigerians have a right to a full range of opinions, ideas and alternatives, and political platforms and candidates should be allowed to participate in the 2027 general election process, which is already underway.

“It is too late for anyone to attempt to use the judiciary to derail or narrow Nigeria’s multi-party democratic space. If the said association (Peace Movement Party) were a party affected by the judgment on our initial suit, the only option open to it was to appeal the verdict, an option it did not take. Even then, the window for such an appeal has since closed, making any appeal statute-barred.

“To now try to overturn that verdict through the back door, via a motion, is not only unheard of but also illegal and an outright abuse of court process.”

‘Plot to undermine opposition’

Similarly, the House of Representatives Caucus of the NDC condemned the Federal High Court decision, describing it as “judicial banditry” and an attempted coup against Nigeria’s democracy.

Addressing journalists on Friday, the Leader of the NDC Caucus in the House of Representatives, Hon. Afam Victor Ogene, rejected the court order, insisting it was not merely a legal error but a deliberate attempt to weaken the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to Ogene, the ruling represents a renewed campaign of judicial harassment against opposition parties, recalling that an earlier court judgment in Abuja seeking to deregister five political parties was overturned by the Court of Appeal.

He argued that the latest ruling followed a similar pattern, alleging that the judiciary was being used as a political tool to suppress opposition voices.

“The order is not an error of law. It is an assault on democracy. It is a calculated pattern of judicial harassment and an attempt to weaponise the judiciary against political opponents,” he said.

The caucus maintained that the statutory 90-day period for challenging the NDC’s registration had long expired, adding that INEC, which is constitutionally responsible for registering political parties, was not the party challenging the registration.

Ogene also alleged that the matter amounted to forum shopping, claiming it was returned to the same court that had earlier directed INEC to register the NDC.

He questioned the timing of the ruling, noting that it came on the day INEC was expected to open its portal and issue access codes for political parties to upload candidates for the 2027 elections.

According to him, the timing suggested a deliberate attempt to prevent the NDC from participating fully in the electoral process.

The caucus accused the ruling APC of orchestrating the development to weaken opposition parties ahead of the next general election.

“We hold the ruling APC directly responsible for this anti-democratic plot. The objective is clear: to muscle the opposition out of the 2027 elections and reduce Nigeria’s democracy to a coronation for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Ogene alleged.

The caucus vowed to challenge the judgment through all available legal channels, including the Supreme Court if necessary, expressing confidence that the judiciary would ultimately uphold constitutional principles.

It also warned that allowing the ruling to stand could erode public confidence in both the judiciary and INEC and potentially trigger a political crisis.

While urging party members nationwide to remain calm and law-abiding, the caucus assured supporters that the party would continue its political activities and legal battle.

“The NDC was born in struggle. No court order can kill that resolve,” Ogene said.

Obi describes court order as bizarre

Also, the NDC presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, described the court order as bizarre.

Urging his supporters nationwide to remain calm while his team addresses the legal quagmire created by yesterday’s court order, Obi, in a statement by the Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR), said: “Our march to a New Nigeria cannot be halted. A detour, yes, but the destination is certain.”

In a statement signed by its spokesman, Idris Zekeri Jr., POMR said it had been inundated with calls from newsrooms and concerned Nigerians over what it described as the strange ruling delivered by the Federal High Court in Lokoja.

It stated: “We have received the news of today’s bizarre ruling regarding the legal status of the Nigeria Democratic Congress. While our legal team is thoroughly reviewing the judgment to initiate immediate corrective and appellate measures, our Principal urges all supporters, coalition partners and patriots nationwide to remain calm and focused.

“We always knew that the journey to dismantle a deeply entrenched and grossly underperforming political status quo would be met with fierce institutional resistance and unexpected legal detours.

“Today’s ruling is a hurdle, not a stop sign. Our commitment to providing a transparent, legitimate and formidable alternative for Nigerians remains unshakeable. The platform we are building is robust, and our legal rights will be vigorously pursued. Do not be discouraged. The vehicle may face a temporary breakdown, but our destination remains non-negotiable.”

Speaking  later on  Channels Television, the National Secretary of the party  Bar. Ikenna Enekweizu, said the NDC had not been deregistered by any court and would continue to function as a political party.

“So far as we are concerned, our party is still subsisting, has not been deregistered and will continue to operate as NDC. We have commenced the process of appealing the judgment and our team of lawyers is already at work,” he said.

According to him, there was no court order expressly deregistering the party.

“There are no issues about our candidates and their candidature in the elections. Since no order was made deregistering the party, we remain a registered political party until any competent court expressly says otherwise,” he added.

Explaining the dispute, Enekweizu said the party began its registration process in 2017 with an elephant as its logo before voluntarily changing it to a two-finger victory sign in 2024 after discovering another political association had adopted the elephant symbol.

He said the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, later suspended the registration process, claiming the new logo resembled that of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

“We disagreed with INEC’s position and even requested permission to change the logo if necessary so that the registration process could continue, but INEC refused. That left us with no option but to approach the court,” he said.

According to him, “During the court proceedings, INEC abandoned its argument that the logo resembled that of the APC and instead introduced the Peace Movement Party, PMP, alleging that the NDC’s logo was similar to its own.”

He argued that the PMP was neither a registered political party nor one of the political associations seeking registration at the time.

“There were 18 registered political parties then and none was PMP. Out of the 171 political associations seeking registration, none was PMP. So there was no basis for raising the issue,” he said.

Enekweizu maintained that the court, in its earlier substantive judgment, dismissed INEC’s objections and ordered the registration of the party.

He, however, faulted the latest ruling setting aside that judgment, arguing:

“None of those conditions applies in this case. A court cannot reopen a matter it has already heard to conclusion simply because another party later claims to be affected,” he said.

He also argued that any aggrieved party ought to have sought leave to appeal as an interested party rather than asking the same court to set aside its final judgment.

Reacting to suggestions that the legal dispute could affect the party’s preparations for the 2027 elections, Enekweizu dismissed the fears, saying the party would continue with its electoral activities.

“We were scheduled to collect the codes for uploading our candidates when this ruling came. We will still collect those codes, upload our candidates and participate fully in the elections.

“Our supporters have nothing to fear. The NDC has not been deregistered. We are confident that justice will prevail at the Court of Appeal and that all our candidates will be on the ballot in 2027,” Enekweizu stated. 

Vanguard News

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