The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced plans to challenge a Federal High Court ruling that set aside its earlier judgment compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the party, insisting that it remains a legally recognised political platform.
In a statement issued on Friday and signed by its National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, the party said it was dissatisfied with the ruling delivered by Justice Isah Dashen of the Federal High Court in Lokoja on an application filed by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which it described as an unregistered association.
The NDC recalled that in December 2025, it approached the Federal High Court after INEC allegedly refused to register it as a political party. According to the party, the court upheld its constitutional right to freedom of association and ordered INEC to register it, a directive the electoral body complied with.
Since its registration, the party said it has carried out membership registration nationwide, conducted congresses from the ward to the national level, held its national convention, concluded primary elections for all elective offices, and participated fully in INEC’s activities.
The party also noted that it fielded candidates in the recently concluded by-elections in Nasarawa and Enugu states and has already nominated candidates for the House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, governorship, presidential and vice-presidential elections, with preparations underway to formally submit their names to INEC in line with the commission’s timetable.
Reacting to the latest court ruling, the NDC argued that the Peace Movement Party is neither a registered political party nor an association currently seeking registration under the ongoing process. It said the group based its application on a claim that it had sought registration in 2015 using the “victory sign” as its logo but was denied.
The party maintained that the Federal High Court had already addressed issues relating to its logo and colours in its December 2025 judgment and that no appeal was filed against that decision.
According to the NDC, the trial court had become functus officio after delivering its final judgment and therefore lacked the jurisdiction to revisit the matter through a motion.
It further stressed that although Justice Dashen reportedly set aside the earlier judgment, the court did not issue any order directing the deregistration of the NDC.
The party said it has instructed its legal team to immediately approach the Court of Appeal to challenge the jurisdiction and validity of the ruling.
The NDC assured its members, supporters and candidates that its nominations remain valid and that the party has not been deregistered.
The party also accused unnamed individuals of attempting to use the judiciary to shrink Nigeria’s democratic space and suppress opposition voices ahead of the 2027 general elections.
It argued that if the Peace Movement Party believed it was affected by the December 2025 judgment, its proper legal remedy was to file an appeal within the stipulated period rather than seek to overturn the judgment through a motion, describing the process as an abuse of court procedure.
The NDC expressed confidence that the Court of Appeal would overturn the ruling and reaffirm its legal status.