A Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, has overturned its earlier judgment that directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party, effectively reversing the legal basis for the party’s recognition.
Gatekeepers News reports that Justice Isah Dashen ruled that the previous decision was flawed because it was made without hearing from all parties whose interests were directly affected by the case.
The court agreed that the Peace Movement Party (PMP) was a necessary party to the matter and should have been included before any substantive judgment was delivered.
According to counsel for PMP, the party approached the court after discovering that the logo relied upon by the NDC in securing registration was similar to one it had earlier submitted to INEC. The court held that PMP’s rights could be affected by the earlier judgment and consequently vacated the ruling.
Justice Dashen further ordered that the status quo be restored pending the determination of the substantive suit, meaning all actions taken as a result of the previous judgment are set aside for now.
The ruling marks a significant development in the legal dispute surrounding the NDC’s registration ahead of the 2027 general election.
