The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has rejected the recent ruling of the Federal High Court in Lokoja, insisting that its registration as a political party remains valid and declaring that its preparations for the 2027 general elections will continue unhindered.
The party also vowed to challenge the judgment at the Court of Appeal, maintaining that there was no court order directing its deregistration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
National Chairman of the party, Sen. Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, made the position known in a statement issued on Friday following 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 application sought to set aside the December 2025 judgment which ordered INEC to register the party.
Dismissing claims that the ruling had ended the party’s legal status, Zuwoghe said the NDC remained a duly registered political party and had already instructed its lawyers to approach the Court of Appeal.
“There was no order directing our deregistration. 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,” he stated.
The party recalled that it approached the Federal High Court in December 2025 after INEC declined to register it and that the court upheld its constitutional right to freedom of association by directing the electoral umpire to register the party.
According to the statement, following the judgment and its eventual registration by INEC, the NDC commenced nationwide political activities, including membership registration as well as ward, local government, state and national congresses, conventions and primary elections.
The party further disclosed that it had participated in recent by-elections in Nasarawa and Enugu states and had already nominated candidates for the House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, governorship, presidential and vice-presidential elections ahead of the 2027 polls.
On the legal dispute, the NDC argued that the Peace Movement Party (PMP) was neither a registered political party nor an association currently participating in INEC’s ongoing political party registration process.
It also maintained that the Federal High Court had become functus officio after delivering its substantive judgment in December 2025, insisting that issues relating to its name, logo and colours had already been settled.
The party stressed that no appeal was filed against the earlier judgment, questioning the legal basis upon which the court revisited the matter through a motion.
According to the NDC, if the Peace Movement Party believed it was affected by the original judgment, the proper legal step would have been to file an appeal within the time prescribed by law.
The party described the process adopted to challenge the judgment as “illegal” and “an outright abuse of court process.”
It further alleged that some unnamed interests were attempting to use the judiciary to stifle political competition, insisting that Nigeria’s democracy must continue to accommodate diverse political platforms.
While expressing confidence in the appellate process, the NDC assured its members, candidates and supporters that all nominations already submitted remained valid.
The party reiterated that its preparations for the 2027 general elections would continue uninterrupted as it awaits the decision of the Court of Appeal.
