Just in: Court Nullifies NDC Registration, Overturns Earlier Order Directing INEC to Register Party
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A Federal High Court has nullified the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party, setting aside an earlier judgment that had compelled the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the party.
The court ruled that the previous decision, delivered by a Federal High Court in Lokoja, could not stand, effectively withdrawing the legal foundation upon which INEC recognised the NDC.
The latest judgment followed a legal challenge questioning the circumstances surrounding the party’s registration. The plaintiffs argued that the NDC failed to satisfy the constitutional and statutory requirements governing the registration of political parties. They maintained that the party was neither among the associations shortlisted by INEC during the registration exercise nor did it complete the prescribed administrative procedures before securing a court order.
After reviewing the arguments presented, the court agreed that the earlier judgment directing INEC to register the NDC was flawed and consequently vacated it. As a result, the commission’s registration of the party has also been invalidated.
The ruling marks a significant development in the legal dispute surrounding the NDC, whose registration has generated controversy since INEC announced its recognition following a court order earlier this year.
The case has attracted widespread attention because several political figures had aligned with the NDC after its registration, while critics consistently questioned the legality of the process that led to its recognition.
Although the latest judgment cancels the party’s registration, the decision may not represent the end of the legal battle, as the affected parties retain the right to challenge the ruling before the Court of Appeal.
The judgment is expected to have important political and legal implications ahead of preparations for the 2027 general elections, particularly regarding compliance with electoral laws and the procedures governing the registration of political parties in Nigeria.
