A fresh twist has emerged in the legal battle over the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party, as a Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja has overturned its earlier decision that directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the Party.
Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Isah Dashen ruled that the earlier decision could not stand because all parties with an interest in the matter were not given an opportunity to present their case before the court reached its conclusion.
The judge upheld an application filed by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), agreeing that the Party was a necessary party in the suit and should have been included in the proceedings from the outset.
According to Justice Dashen, the previous judgment was constitutionally flawed because it was delivered without hearing from every interested party, an omission he said rendered the entire process invalid.
The court subsequently ordered that the situation be returned to the position it was in before the judgment delivered on December 10, 2025, pending the determination of the substantive case.
Justice Dashen further noted that some material facts were not disclosed during the earlier proceedings, a development that strengthened the case for setting aside the judgment.
As a result, the court directed that the substantive suit should commence afresh, with INEC, the PMP and the NDC all participating as parties in the matter.
Speaking with journalists after the ruling, counsel to the applicant, Chikezie Ekeocha, said the PMP approached the court after discovering that the NDC’s registration was tied to a logo the Party had earlier submitted to INEC before the legal action began.
Ekeocha said the court accepted that the applicant’s rights may have 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,” he stated.
He explained that the implication of the ruling is that every step taken by INEC in obedience to the now-vacated judgment has effectively been reversed.
According to him, the recognition of the NDC, the issuance of its certificate of registration, its inclusion in INEC records and any appearance on ballot papers arising from the earlier judgment must be withdrawn until the substantive case is finally determined.
Ekeocha, however, stressed that the main suit remains pending 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 said.
He also rejected claims that the court merely ordered parties to maintain the status quo, insisting that the ruling specifically directed a restoration of the position that existed before the December 10, 2025 judgment.
The latest decision effectively sends the dispute surrounding the registration of the NDC back to the Federal High Court for a fresh hearing, where all parties involved will have the opportunity to present their arguments before a new determination is made.
