LOKOJA — A Federal High Court in Lokoja has set aside the judgment that ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC] to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress [NDC] as a political party, effectively nullifying the party’s recognition.
Justice Isah Dashen ruled on Friday that the Dec. 10, 2025 judgment was “constitutionally defective” because the Peace Movement Party [PMP] was not joined as a party to the suit, even though NDC’s registration was based on PMP’s logo.
The court ordered all parties to return to the position they occupied before the Dec. 10, 2025 judgment. As a result, every action INEC took in compliance with that order, including the issuance of a certificate of registration and recognition to NDC, has been reversed.
For now, NDC is not a recognised political party and cannot sponsor candidates for any election until it secures fresh approval from INEC.
The judge said the substantive suit remains pending. He vacated the earlier judgment to allow all affected parties to be heard and a fresh decision to be reached. NDC will have to restart the registration process.
NDC was registered in February 2026 following the Lokoja court order, even though it was not among the associations pre-qualified by INEC at the time.
This case is separate from the ongoing Court of Appeal matter challenging the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress [ADC], Accord Party and three others, which was adjourned to July 7.
