By Deborah Nnamdi
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has rejected the Federal High Court’s decision setting aside the judgment that compelled the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register it as a political party, insisting that the ruling does not affect its legal status or participation in the 2027 general elections.
Reacting to Friday’s judgment delivered by the Federal High Court in Lokoja, the party said it remained a duly registered political party, stressing that the court did not order its deregistration.
In a statement signed by its National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, the NDC described the ruling as an attempt to undermine Nigeria’s multi-party democracy and announced that it had instructed its legal team to immediately challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal.
The party argued that its registration by INEC followed a valid Federal High Court judgment delivered in December 2025 after the electoral commission initially refused to register it.
According to the NDC, it has since carried out nationwide membership registration, conducted ward, local government, state and national congresses, held its convention and primary elections, and fielded candidates in recent bye-elections in Nasarawa and Enugu states.
The party added that it has already nominated candidates for the House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, governorship, presidential and vice-presidential elections ahead of the 2027 polls.
Questioning the basis of the latest court decision, the NDC said the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which filed the application, is neither a registered political party nor an association currently seeking registration.
It further argued that the trial court lacked the jurisdiction to set aside its earlier final judgment through a motion, describing the process as an abuse of court procedure.
While expressing dissatisfaction with the ruling, the party maintained that there was no order directing INEC to deregister it and assured its candidates and supporters that all nominations already made remain valid.
The NDC also accused unnamed individuals of attempting to use the judiciary to shrink Nigeria’s democratic space and suppress opposition voices, insisting that no one could stop its participation in the 2027 general elections.
The party expressed confidence that the Court of Appeal would overturn the ruling and reaffirm its legal status.
