The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, activist Omoyele Sowore, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC) spokesman Bolaji Abdullahi and Paul Ibe, media adviser to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, have rejected Friday’s ruling of a Federal High Court in Lokoja setting aside its earlier judgment that led to the registration of the NDC as a political party.
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, C.S. Ekeocha, said the court ordered all parties to return to the position they occupied before the December 10, 2025 judgment and directed that all necessary parties be joined before the substantive issues are determined.
According to him, the implication of the ruling is that actions taken by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) pursuant to the earlier judgment, including the recognition and registration of the NDC, should be reversed pending the determination of the substantive suit.
