By Our Correspondent
The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, which had nullified an earlier order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party.
The appellate court, in a split 2–1 decision delivered on Friday, effectively restored the NDC’s registration and removed the immediate legal uncertainty surrounding the party’s participation in the 2027 general elections.
The majority judgment was delivered by Justice Mohammed Danjuma and Justice Muslim Sule Hassan, while Justice Okon Abang dissented.
The case arose from an earlier judgment of the Federal High Court in Lokoja delivered on December 10, 2025, directing INEC to register the NDC.
However, following an application by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), the Lokoja court, presided over by Justice Isah Dashen, subsequently set aside its earlier decision.
The PMP had argued that it had a legal interest in the matter, particularly over the logo associated with the NDC, and should have been joined as a necessary party in the original proceedings.
Justice Dashen accepted the argument and held that the failure to hear the relevant party rendered the earlier proceedings defective.
The NDC challenged that decision at the Court of Appeal.
In allowing the appeal, the majority of the appellate panel faulted the decision of the Lokoja court and held that the lower court could not effectively sit on appeal over its own earlier judgment. The Court consequently set aside Justice Dashen’s ruling.
Reacting to the judgment, National Leader of the NDC, Senator Seriake Dickson, said the party’s registration remained “valid and subsisting.”
In a statement posted on his social media account, Dickson said the appellate court’s decision had restored the NDC’s right to participate in Nigeria’s political process and removed the uncertainty created by the Lokoja judgment.
He commended the judiciary, particularly Justices Danjuma and Hassan, for the majority decision.
Dickson said the NDC was established to expand multiparty participation in Nigeria and described the earlier Lokoja judgment as a setback to the party’s participation in the electoral process.
He said the party would proceed with its political activities and participate in the 2027 elections.
The judgment is significant for the 2027 presidential race because Peter Obi is seeking the presidency on the NDC platform.
The Court of Appeal ruling therefore removes the legal obstacle created by the Lokoja judgment, subject to any further legal proceedings that may arise.
