By: Odeh Favour Adiya
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has broken its silence following a fresh ruling by the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, maintaining that it remains a legally recognized political party and is already heading to the Court of Appeal to challenge the decision.
The controversy arose after the Lokoja court, presided over by Honourable Justice Isah Dashen, delivered a ruling on an application filed by an unregistered association known as the Peace Movement Party (PMP). The new order reportedly set aside a December 2025 judgment that had initially compelled the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the NDC.
Reacting swiftly to the development, the party released an official statement on its official X handle, expressing deep shock that the court could entertain a motion from an entity it described as completely “unknown” to the current political process.
According to the statement shared on their X handle:
“Our attention has been drawn to a ruling by the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja this morning, wherein His Lordship, Honourable Justice Isah Dashen, gave a ruling on an application filed by an unregistered association known as Peace Movement Party.
The public knows that by December 2025, the Nigeria Democratic Congress as an association complained of INEC’s refusal to register us as a political party, whereupon we proceeded to the Federal High Court. The Federal High Court upheld our constitutional right to freedom of association under the Constitution and compelled INEC to register us, which INEC did.
Since then, we have started political activities, embarked on the registration of members, held congresses from ward to national levels, held conventions, and concluded primaries to all offices following INEC’s timetable. We have been fully participating in all INEC activities without let or hindrance.
NDC also fielded candidates, and fully participated, in the just-concluded bye elections in Nasarawa and Enugu states. Candidates for the House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, Governorship, Presidential, and Vice-Presidential positions have been duly nominated, and we are in the process of formally submitting them to INEC in accordance with INEC’s timetable.”
The NDC vehemently questioned the legal standing of the Peace Movement Party, pointing out that the group is not even registered and bases its claim on an old 2015 grievance regarding the use of the “victory sign” symbol.
Continuing its narration on X, the party stated:
“The association that filed the complaint is unknown to us. The Peace Movement Party (PMP) is not a registered political party in Nigeria. They claimed, in a motion (not even a substantive suit or appeal), that the court should set aside its earlier judgment on the purported ground that, in 2015, they had sought registration as a political party with the victory sign as their symbol and were denied.
It is important to note that they are not an association applying for registration now under the exercise that started last year. They are also not a registered political party in Nigeria participating in the political process now, as we are.
Furthermore, the court, having delivered a final judgment in our suit against INEC, had become functus officio. The court had also dealt with all related issues concerning associations claiming they wanted to use the same symbol and colours. The court, in its judgment, overruled INEC when those issues were raised, and there is no appeal against that judgment.”
The party expressed deep dissatisfaction with how the court handled the application, maintaining that the judge lacked the jurisdiction to reverse the earlier registration.
The party statement on X continued:
“Therefore, we are surprised that, on an application by an association claiming that it wanted to register as a political party with the victory sign in 2015—an association that is not a registered political party and is not seeking registration now to participate in the current political process His Lordship came to the conclusion that they have locus standi, and furthermore, that he has jurisdiction to do what he did.
Accordingly, we have been informed that His Lordship made an order setting aside the court’s earlier decision of December 2025. There was no order directing our deregistration. However, we are dissatisfied with the decision that has been made, and we have instructed our team of lawyers to immediately proceed to the Court of Appeal to challenge the jurisdiction and propriety of His Lordship’s order.
We assure the general public, and particularly our candidates at all levels, that our party is on course. The NDC has not been deregistered, and we are challenging today’s order at the Court of Appeal as soon as possible. We have no doubt that justice will be done.”
Concluding the post, the opposition party condemned what it described as desperate efforts by hidden forces to shrink the democratic space and stifle alternative voices as the nation moves midway into the 2027 general election timeline.
The party added:
“We condemn efforts by those who seek to shrink the democratic space and stifle opposition voices and alternatives. Nigerians have a right to a full range of opinions, ideas, and alternatives, and political platforms and candidates should be allowed to participate the 2027 general election process, which has already gone midway.”
