The Nigeria Democratic Congress said Friday it will appeal a Federal High Court ruling that set aside an earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission to register the party, insisting it has not been deregistered.
The party’s position drew support from its presidential candidate, Peter Obi; the Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party; the NDC caucus in the House of Representatives; the Obidient Movement; and the Kwankwasiyya Movement. They alleged that the ruling was part of a broader effort to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general election.
Although the NDC maintained that no court had ordered its deregistration and assured members that party activities would continue, opposition figures described the judgment as a threat to Nigeria’s democratic space and public confidence in the judiciary.
The controversy followed Friday’s ruling by Justice Isah Dashen of the Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, which set aside the court’s Dec. 10, 2025, judgment directing INEC to register the NDC.
The judge held that the earlier judgment adversely affected the rights of the Peace Movement Party, which claimed ownership of the logo relied upon in obtaining the registration order but was not joined as a party in the suit.
Counsel for the applicant, C.S. Ekeocha, said the court ordered all parties to return to the position they occupied before the Dec. 10 judgment and directed that all necessary parties be joined before the substantive suit is heard afresh.
According to Ekeocha, the ruling reversed every action taken by INEC pursuant to the earlier judgment, including the recognition of the NDC and the issuance of its certificate of registration, pending a fresh determination of the case.
Reacting to the judgment, NDC National Chairman Moses Cleopas said the party had instructed its legal team to challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal.
In a statement posted on the party’s official Facebook page, Cleopas argued that the trial court had become functus officio after delivering its final judgment and therefore lacked jurisdiction to set aside its earlier decision through a motion.
He also questioned the standing of the Peace Movement Party, saying it was neither a registered political party nor part of the registration process before the court.
“There was no order directing our deregistration. However, we are dissatisfied with the decision and have instructed our lawyers to immediately proceed to the Court of Appeal to challenge the jurisdiction and propriety of His Lordship’s order,” Cleopas said.
He assured party members and candidates that preparations for the 2027 elections would continue.
“The NDC has not been deregistered, and we are challenging today’s order at the Court of Appeal. We have no doubt that justice will be done,” he said.
Cleopas accused unnamed forces of attempting to suppress opposition parties through the courts, describing the application that resulted in Friday’s ruling as an abuse of court process.
Obi, in a statement on his social media platforms, described the judgment as another setback for Nigeria’s democracy.
“Every Nigerian committed to the country’s progress should be deeply concerned. This judgment represents another setback for our democracy and the institutions upon which our future depends,” he said.
Obi accused some political actors of weakening democratic institutions while professing support for democracy.
“The legislature and the judiciary are increasingly being drawn into this pattern of institutional decline. Democracy cannot thrive where institutions lose their independence and credibility,” he said.
He added that his intervention was based on principle rather than political interest and urged Nigerians to defend democratic institutions.
The Tanimu Turaki-led PDP faction also condemned the ruling, describing it as another blow to Nigeria’s democracy.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the faction said it was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment but warned that its implications were troubling.
The statement described the ruling as a threat to multiparty democracy and alleged that it aligned with attempts by the APC-led Federal Government to weaken credible opposition ahead of the 2027 elections.
The NDC caucus in the House of Representatives rejected the judgment, accusing the APC of orchestrating what it called a “judicial coup against democracy.”
In a statement signed by caucus leader Afam Ogene, the lawmakers described the ruling as “judicial banditry” and vowed to challenge it up to the Supreme Court if necessary.
The caucus argued that the statutory period for challenging the party’s registration had elapsed and questioned why INEC was not the party pursuing the latest proceedings.
Supporters of Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso also criticized the ruling.
Director-General of the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement, John Ughulu, alleged that the judgment was intended to prevent both politicians from appearing on the 2027 presidential ballot. He also made inflammatory remarks threatening unrest.
Kwankwasiyya Movement spokesman Habibu Muhammed questioned the legality of the decision, arguing that a court of coordinate jurisdiction should not overturn its own judgment. He alleged that the ruling was aimed at ensuring only President Bola Tinubu remained on the 2027 ballot and expressed confidence that both Obi and Kwankwaso would contest the election.
The National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, also condemned what he described as contradictory judicial decisions affecting the NDC.
Tanko alleged that the judiciary was being used for partisan purposes and warned against attempts to suppress opposition parties and create a one-party state. He also made inflammatory comments suggesting such actions could destabilize the country.
