The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced its decision to challenge a recent ruling of the Federal High Court sitting ...
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced its decision to challenge a recent ruling of the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, insisting that it remains a legally registered political party and has not been deregistered.
In a statement signed by its National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, the party expressed dissatisfaction with the ruling delivered by Justice Isah Dashen on an application filed by an association known as the Peace Movement Party (PMP).
According to the NDC, the court had earlier, in December 2025, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the party after upholding its constitutional right to freedom of association. The party said it was subsequently registered by INEC and has since participated in various political activities, including membership registration, congresses, conventions, primary elections, and the recent bye-elections in Nasarawa and Enugu states.
The party also stated that it has nominated candidates for the House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, Governorship, Presidential, and Vice-Presidential elections and is in the process of submitting their names to INEC in line with the electoral timetable.
Reacting to the latest court decision, the NDC argued that the Peace Movement Party is neither a registered political party nor an association participating in the current registration exercise. It maintained that the court had already delivered a final judgment on its registration case and therefore lacked jurisdiction to revisit the matter.
The party further clarified that the court did not issue any order directing its deregistration but only set aside its earlier judgment granting registration.
The NDC disclosed that it has instructed its legal team to immediately file an appeal before the Court of Appeal to challenge what it described as the jurisdiction and propriety of the ruling.
The party assured its members, candidates, and supporters that its nominations remain valid and urged them to remain calm while the legal process runs its course.
It also accused unnamed individuals of attempting to undermine Nigeria's multi-party democracy through the courts, insisting that political parties and candidates should be allowed to participate freely in the 2027 general elections.
The NDC expressed confidence that the Court of Appeal would overturn the ruling and reaffirm its legal status.
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