Court sets aside judgment recognising NDC as political party

‎By Boluwaji Obahopo

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, effectively nullifying all actions taken pursuant to the ruling.

‎Justice Isah Dashen, who delivered the ruling on Friday, 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), C. S. Ekeocha, told journalists that the PMP 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.