By George Ozalla
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has rejected the recent ruling of the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, declaring that it remains a legally recognised political party and has already instructed its legal team to challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal.
The party made its position known in a statement signed by its National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, following a ruling delivered by Justice Isah Dashen on an application filed by an association identified as the Peace Movement Party (PMP).
According to the NDC, the court ruling stemmed from an application by the unregistered association, which sought to set aside an earlier judgment delivered in December 2025 that compelled the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the party.
The party stated that after INEC complied with the court order and granted its registration, it commenced full political activities across the country, including the registration of members, ward, local government, state and national congresses, national convention and the conduct of primary elections for various elective positions in line with the electoral timetable.
The NDC further stated that it had also participated in the recently concluded bye-elections in Nasarawa and Enugu states and had successfully nominated candidates for the House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, governorship, presidential and vice-presidential elections ahead of the 2027 general elections.
It stressed that the Peace Movement Party is neither a registered political party nor an association participating in the current registration exercise, insisting that it has no legal standing to challenge the party’s registration.
The NDC further added that the Federal High Court had already delivered a final judgment in the matter involving its registration and had addressed all issues relating to the use of its party symbol and colours during the original proceedings.
According to the party, the court had become functus officio after delivering its final judgment, maintaining that there was no pending appeal against that decision.
The statement expressed surprise that the court entertained the fresh application filed by an association which claimed it had unsuccessfully sought registration with a similar victory sign as its symbol in 2015.
The party stated that although the latest ruling reportedly set aside the earlier judgment, it did not order the deregistration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress.
The NDC stressed that it remains a valid political party under Nigerian law and assured all its candidates, members and supporters that its activities, nominations and preparations for the 2027 general elections remain unaffected.
The party further stated that its lawyers had already received instructions to immediately approach the Court of Appeal to challenge what it described as the jurisdiction and propriety of the ruling.
It also condemned what it described as attempts to shrink Nigeria’s democratic space by frustrating opposition platforms through judicial processes.
The statement further added that Nigerians deserve a broad range of political alternatives and should not be denied the opportunity of making democratic choices during the 2027 general elections.
The NDC stressed that the current electoral process had already advanced significantly and argued that any attempt to derail its participation through legal manoeuvres would undermine Nigeria’s multi-party democracy.
It further maintained that if the Peace Movement Party believed it was affected by the original judgment delivered in December 2025, its proper legal remedy should have been an appeal within the stipulated period rather than seeking to overturn the judgment through a motion.
The party described the latest legal action as an abuse of court process and insisted that the time allowed for any appeal against the original judgment had already expired.
The NDC thanked its members, supporters and candidates across the country for their continued confidence, assuring them that all nominations already made remain valid while expressing confidence that the appellate court would overturn the ruling and uphold justice.
The dispute centres on the legal status of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, which secured its registration through a Federal High Court judgment in December 2025 after successfully challenging INEC’s initial refusal to register it as a political party. The latest ruling has triggered a fresh legal battle that is now expected to be decided by the Court of Appeal.
