The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has overturned the decision of the Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, which had ordered the deregistration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress as a political party.
The appellate court, in a majority judgment delivered by a three-member panel, ruled by two to one in favour of the NDC and affirmed the Independent National Electoral Commission’s recognition of the party. The court described the July 26 judgment of the lower court as perverse.
Justices Mohammed Danjuma and Muslim Sule Hassan, who constituted the majority, held that the Federal High Court exceeded its powers by effectively sitting on appeal over an earlier decision it had itself delivered on December 10, 2025.
The earlier judgment had directed INEC to register the NDC as a political party. According to the majority decision, the subsequent proceedings amounted to an abuse of judicial power and the established hierarchy of the courts.
The appellate court also rejected the argument concerning the NDC’s party logo, which an association operating under the aegis of the Peace Movement Party (PMP) had claimed belonged to it.
The two justices consequently upheld the NDC’s appeal, holding that the party had established sufficient grounds for the appellate court to intervene in the matter.
Justice Okon Abang, the third member of the panel, however, disagreed with the majority decision. In his dissenting judgment, he upheld the deregistration of the NDC and found no basis to fault the decision of the Federal High Court.
Justice Abang maintained that the lower court acted in accordance with the principles of justice and fair hearing when it reviewed its earlier decision.
The dispute arose after the Federal High Court in Lokoja, presided over by Justice Isah Dashen, reversed an earlier order directing INEC to register the NDC.
The reversal followed an application by the PMP, which argued that it had not been included as a party in the original proceedings despite claiming a legal interest in the case.
The lower court accepted the argument, holding that parties with a vested interest in the matter should have been given an opportunity to be heard before an order was made compelling INEC to register the NDC.
Justice Dashen subsequently directed that the matter be heard afresh, with all relevant parties properly joined in the proceedings.
The NDC, which had already nominated candidates for the 2027 general elections, challenged the decision at the Court of Appeal. The party secured a majority judgment in its favour on Friday.
Reacting to the appellate court’s decision, former Bayelsa State governor and NDC chieftain, Senator Seriake Dickson, described the ruling as a victory for democracy.
He said, “We want to use this opportunity once again to commend the Nigerian judiciary, and in particular, Hon. Justice Danjuma and Hon. Justice Hassan, for upholding the integrity of the Nigerian judiciary and, by their decisions, expanding the sphere of multiparty democratic participation in Nigeria.
“We have said repeatedly that the NDC was set up to expand the frontier of multiparty democracy in Nigeria. Justice Dashen’s judgment a few months ago was an unexpected assault on our constitutional right to participate and an attempt to narrow the democratic space.
“Happily, today, by the decision of the Court of Appeal, the Nigerian democratic space has been protected, and the NDC’s right to participate in all political activities as a registered political party has been upheld.
“I congratulate all members and candidates of our great party, the NDC, and thank Nigerians for their prayers and support.
“When the unexpected judgment of the Lokoja Federal High Court was delivered, we were bombarded with several calls for sympathy, support and prayers. Today, our collective prayers have been answered.
“The NDC continues to exist. Our registration remains valid and subsisting, and we and all our candidates will participate in all elections in 2027 and beyond, by the grace of God.
“Everyone should now focus on the campaigns, prepare for the elections, and gear up to face the APC and defeat them at the polls.
“Resorting to arm-twisting, inducing, or intimidating the judiciary will not work. We remain confident in the strength of our message, the commitment of our members, the viability of our candidates, and the support of Nigerians.
“With this conviction, we look forward to the forthcoming elections and are confident that the NDC will emerge victorious at the polls, by the grace of God.
“The fight for Nigeria’s multiparty democracy continues, and by the grace of God we will emerge victorious,” he added.
