A Federal High Court in Lokoja has set aside its earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party.
Justice Isah Dashen ruled on Friday that the earlier judgment affected the rights of the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which was not included in the case despite claiming ownership of the logo used by the NDC.
Lawyer to the Peace Movement Party, C.S. Ekeocha, said the party approached the court after discovering that the NDC’s registration was based on a logo it had earlier submitted to INEC before the case began.
According to him, “The court has ordered all parties to return to the position they occupied before the judgment of December 10, 2025, and directed the claimants to join all necessary parties to ensure the issues in dispute are effectually and completely determined.”
Ekeocha said the ruling means all actions taken by INEC based on the earlier judgment have been reversed.
He said, “The recognition of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, the issuance of its certificate of registration, its inclusion in INEC’s records, and any appearance on ballot papers arising from that judgment must be withdrawn pending the final determination of the substantive suit.”
He stressed that the main case is still before the court.
“The matter has not been concluded. The court merely set aside its previous judgment and directed that the party whose interests were affected be joined so that all sides can be heard before a fresh decision is reached,” Ekeocha said.
The ruling means the dispute over the registration of the lNDC will return to the Federal High Court for a fresh hearing with all relevant parties participating.
