By Florencemary Nwabueze
The Federal High Court in Lokoja has set aside its December 10, 2025 judgment that directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party, ruling that the original proceedings excluded a party with a direct stake in the outcome.
Justice Isah Dashen held that the earlier judgment affected the rights of the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which was not joined in the suit despite its claim to ownership of the logo NDC used in its registration bid.
The ruling effectively reverses INEC's recognition of the NDC, including its certificate of registration and inclusion in electoral records, pending a fresh hearing of the substantive suit.
C.S. Ekeocha, counsel to PMP, told journalists that his client approached the court after discovering that NDC's registration was based on a logo PMP had submitted to INEC before the original case was even filed.
"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.
He explained that the practical effect of the ruling is that every action INEC took in compliance with the now-vacated judgment is reversed – including NDC's recognition, its certificate of registration, its inclusion in INEC's records, and any appearance on ballot papers – all of which must be withdrawn pending a final determination of the substantive suit.
Justice Dashen reportedly observed that the initial judgment was constitutionally defective because it was delivered without hearing from all interested parties, an omission that rendered the entire process null and void. The court further noted that certain material facts had been suppressed in the earlier proceedings.
Ekeocha emphasized that the underlying case remains undecided.
"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," he said, dismissing suggestions that the court had simply ordered parties to maintain the status quo.
The ruling sends the dispute over NDC's registration back to the Federal High Court for a fresh hearing, with INEC, PMP, and NDC now all joined as parties.
With this action, unless reversed, the presidential and vice presidential candidates of the NDC, Mr. Peter Obi and Rafiu Kwankwaso, will not be eligible to participate in the upcoming election.
The court ordered that the status quo be restored to its state before the December 10, 2025 judgment, pending the determination of the substantive suit. Consequently, the entire case must begin afresh, with all three parties now joined to ensure complete determination of the issues in dispute.