By: Manoah Kikekon
LOKOJA, KOGI STATE – The legal status of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has been thrown into uncertainty following a ruling by the Federal High Court in Lokoja, which has set aside its previous judgment that had compelled the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the entity as a political party.
Presiding Judge Isah Dashen, in his ruling on suit marked FHC/LKJ/CS/49/2025, declared the December 10, 2025, judgment "constitutionally defective." The court noted that the initial proceedings failed to include all necessary parties, a procedural oversight that has now rendered the former decision null and void.
The court’s decision followed a vigorous legal challenge filed by the Peace Movement Party (PMP). The PMP argued that it held a significant legal interest in the matter and should have been formally joined as a party before the court issued any directives regarding the NDC's registration.
Justice Dashen upheld the PMP’s application, stating that the applicant had established sufficient interest to be heard. Furthermore, the judge emphasized that material facts were withheld during the earlier proceedings, necessitating the vacation of the previous order to ensure judicial integrity.
As a result of the ruling, the court has ordered a restoration of the status quo as it existed prior to the December 2025 judgment. The substantive suit is now set to begin afresh, with the court mandating that INEC, the Peace Movement Party, and the Nigeria Democratic Congress must all be joined as active participants in the new proceedings.
This development follows earlier controversies regarding the NDC's entry into the Nigerian political arena. In February 2026, INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan had noted that only two out of eight applicants had successfully met the rigorous constitutional and Electoral Act requirements for registration, yet the NDC had secured registration through the initial court mandate that has now been vacated.
The ruling marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing discourse regarding the registration of new political associations in Nigeria, placing the burden back on the judiciary to ensure that the process remains transparent and inclusive of all stakeholders.