The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has rejected a federal high court ruling in Lokoja that set aside an earlier judgment ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the party.
In a statement on Friday, June 26, 2026, Moses Cleopas, the NDC national chairman, said the party has instructed its legal team to appeal the decision at the Court of Appeal. He said the challenge to the party’s registration was brought by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which Cleopas described as an unregistered group with no standing in the NDC.
Cleopas recalled that in December 2025 a federal high court had affirmed the party’s constitutional right to freedom of association and directed INEC to register the NDC.
Since that time, he said, the party has completed internal structures and processes: registering members, holding ward, local government, state and national congresses, conducting its national convention, and concluding primaries in line with INEC’s timetable.
He added that the NDC participated in recent by-elections in Nasarawa and Enugu states and has nominated candidates for all elective offices ahead of the 2027 general election.
‘THERE WAS NO ORDER DIRECTING OUR DEREGISTRATION’
The NDC said the court did not order its deregistration even though it set aside the earlier judgment.
“There was no order directing our deregistration. We assure the general public, and particularly our candidates at all levels, that our party is on course,” the statement reads.
“The NDC has not been deregistered, and we are challenging today’s order at the Court of Appeal as soon as possible. We have no doubt that justice will be done.”
The party said all nominations made on its platform remain valid while the appeal is pending.
The NDC argued that the federal high court became “functus officio” after handing down its final judgment in the case.
It said issues concerning its logo and symbol were already settled by the earlier ruling and were not the subject of any appeal.
The party also insisted that the Peace Movement Party is neither a registered political party nor an association involved in the current registration process.
“To now try to upturn that verdict through the back door, via a motion, is not only unheard-of, but also illegal and an outright abuse of court process,” the statement added.
The NDC accused unnamed actors of seeking to “shrink the democratic space and stifle opposition voices.”
“We condemn efforts by those who seek to shrink the democratic space and stifle opposition voices and alternatives,” the party said.
“Nigerians have a right to a full range of opinions, ideas, and alternatives, and political platforms and candidates should be allowed to participate in the 2027 general election process.”
The party expressed confidence that the court of appeal would overturn the ruling.
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