Court Sets Aside Judgment Ordering INEC To Register NDC
The Federal High Court in Lokoja has set aside its earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party, ordering that the case be heard afresh with all interested parties.
Justice Isah Dashen, who delivered the ruling on Friday, held that the earlier judgment was flawed because it was delivered without hearing all parties whose interests were affected by the matter.
The court upheld an application filed by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), declaring that the party was a necessary party to the suit and should have been joined before any substantive decision was made.
Justice Dashen ruled that the failure to hear all relevant parties rendered the previous proceedings constitutionally defective and nullified the judgment delivered in December 2025.
He further ordered that the status quo be restored to what it was before the December 10, 2025 judgment, pending the determination of the substantive suit.
The judge also held that material facts had been withheld during the earlier proceedings, providing further justification for setting aside the judgment.
Consequently, the court directed that the suit should commence afresh, with INEC, the PMP and the NDC joined as parties to the case.
Counsel to the applicant, Chikezie Ekeocha, told journalists that the PMP approached the court after discovering that the NDC’s registration was based on a logo the party had previously submitted to INEC before the commencement of the suit.
According to him, the court agreed that the PMP’s rights had been affected and consequently vacated the earlier judgment.
“The court has ordered all parties to return to the position they occupied before the judgment of December 10, 2025, and directed the claimants to join all necessary parties to ensure the issues in dispute are effectually and completely determined,” Ekeocha said.
He explained that the ruling effectively reverses every action taken by INEC pursuant to the now-vacated judgment.
According to him, the recognition of the NDC, the issuance of its certificate of registration, its inclusion in INEC’s records and any appearance on ballot papers arising from the earlier judgment must be withdrawn pending the final determination of the substantive suit.
Ekeocha, however, clarified that the substantive case had not been concluded, stressing that the court only set aside its previous judgment to allow all affected parties to be heard before reaching a fresh decision.
He also dismissed claims that the court merely ordered parties to maintain the status quo, insisting that the ruling specifically restored the position that existed before the December 10, 2025 judgment.
The decision returns the dispute over the registration of the NDC to the Federal High Court for a fresh hearing involving all relevant parties before a new judgment is delivered.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
