The Federal High Court in Lokoja has overturned its earlier decision requiring the Independent National Electoral Commission to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party, allowing for a new hearing of the substantive suit.
Justice Isah Dashen, who delivered the finding on Friday, said that the court’s December 10, 2025, decision harmed the rights of the Peace Movement Party, which was not joined as a party in the litigation despite claiming ownership of the emblem used to secure the judgment.
As a result, the judge ordered that all parties be restored to their places before the December 10, 2025 verdict and directed the claimants to join all essential parties to enable the issues in dispute to be properly resolved.
According to C.S. Ekeocha, counsel for the Peace Movement Party, the party approached the court after discovering that the NDC’s registration was based on a logo it had previously submitted to INEC prior to the suit.
The court agreed that the party’s rights were affected and 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,” he said.
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According to Ekeocha, the ruling meant that all actions made by INEC in accordance with the now-vacated judgment were reversed.
”The recognition of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, the issuance of its certificate of registration, its inclusion in INEC’s records, and any appearance on ballot papers arising from that judgment must be withdrawn pending the final determination of the substantive suit,” Ekeocha added.
However, he clarified that the substantive case remained before the court.
”The matter has not been concluded. The court merely set aside its previous judgment and directed that the party whose interests were affected be joined so that all sides can be heard before a fresh decision is reached,” he added.
Ekeocha also refuted claims that the court simply ordered parties to maintain the status quo, stating that the verdict clearly commanded a return to the situation that was prior to the December 10, 2025, judgment.
Ekeocha denied that the court simply ordered parties to maintain the status quo, stating that the verdict aimed to restore the position from before the December 10, 2025, judgment.
