The Nigeria Democratic Congress says it will challenge a Federal High Court ruling that set aside the judgment directing INEC to register the party.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has rejected the judgment of a Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, which vacated an earlier ruling directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the party as a political platform.
The court’s decision followed an application filed by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which argued that it should have been joined in the original suit because the NDC’s registration was linked to a logo it had earlier submitted to INEC. The court subsequently set aside its previous judgment that paved the way for the NDC’s registration.
Reacting to the development, the NDC described the ruling as unacceptable and announced that it would immediately challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal. The party maintained that it remained committed to pursuing all available legal options to defend its registration.
The judgment represents a fresh legal twist for the party, coming months after it emerged on Nigeria’s political landscape and attracted prominent opposition figures, including Peter Obi. The ruling also places renewed attention on the legal processes surrounding political party registration and recognition by INEC.
As of Friday, the NDC said it would proceed with its appeal against the judgment, while the court’s order setting aside the earlier registration ruling remains in effect pending further legal proceedings.