Court sets aside judgment ordering INEC to register NDC

A Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja has set aside its earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party.

Justice Isah Dashen, in a ruling delivered on Friday, held that the earlier judgment affected the rights of the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which was not joined in the suit despite claiming ownership of the logo used by the NDC.

Counsel to the Peace Movement Party, C.S. Ekeocha, said 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 case.

According to him, “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.”

Ekeocha explained that the ruling effectively reversed all actions taken by INEC pursuant to the earlier judgment.

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registration, its inclusion in INEC’s records, and any appearance on ballot papers arising from that judgment must be withdrawn pending the final determination of the substantive suit,” he said.

He stressed that the substantive case remains pending before the court.

“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 added.

The ruling means the dispute over the registration of the NDC will return to the Federal High Court for a fresh hearing with all relevant parties joined in the suit.