A fresh political storm is brewing after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) condemned the court decision directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the recognition of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), warning that the development could further shrink Nigeria’s democratic space ahead of the 2027 elections.
The opposition Party described the ruling as a dangerous precedent capable of weakening multiparty democracy and discouraging political participation at a time when many Nigerians are seeking alternatives in the country’s political landscape.
In a statement issued on Friday through its Interim National Working Committee and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the PDP said it had followed reports of the judgment delivered by the Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, with serious concern.
Although the Party noted that it was still awaiting the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment, it said the implications of the court order were troubling and far-reaching.
“We have read media reports of the order of the Federal High Court, sitting in Lokoja, directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
“While we await the Certified True Copy of the judgment, we express our profound condemnation of the implications of the court order, which further constricts the democratic space in our country,” the statement read.
According to the PDP, the ruling goes beyond the fate of one political party and strikes at the heart of Nigeria’s multiparty democratic system.
The Party argued that the decision amounted to “the asphyxiation of multiparty democracy in Nigeria” and also represented “an economic crime against Nigerians who invested in the Party.”
It noted that several Nigerians had already committed resources and political ambitions to contest elections under the NDC platform, making the decision even more significant.
The PDP further alleged that the development fits into what it described as a broader strategy by the ruling All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government to weaken opposition forces ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“This situation, though activated through the court, fits neatly into the playbook of the APC-led Federal Government, which appears unwilling to allow the survival of a genuine opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections, in order to pave the way for the President’s unchallenged re-election,” the statement added.
The Party accused the current administration of showing what it called a lack of commitment to fair political competition, describing the situation as unfortunate for the country’s democratic development.
The PDP also urged the leadership of the NDC to challenge the judgment through all available legal channels while mobilising public support in defence of democratic principles.
“The leadership of the genuine Peoples Democratic Party urges the leadership of the NDC to vigorously challenge this order within the ambit of the law while seeking the support of the Nigerian people in the struggle for democratic consolidation,” the statement said.
It further called on the Federal Government to deliberately work towards reducing political tension across the country in the interest of peace, stability and the preservation of democracy.
The reaction followed Friday’s ruling by Justice Isah Dashen of the Federal High Court in Lokoja, which set aside an earlier judgment that had compelled INEC to register the NDC as a political party.
The court held that all interested parties must be heard before any substantive decision can be reached and ruled that the earlier judgment was defective because it was delivered without hearing from all affected parties.
Justice Dashen consequently restored all parties to the position they occupied before the December 10, 2025 judgment and ordered that the substantive suit begin afresh with INEC, the NDC and the Peace Movement Party (PMP) participating in the proceedings.
The latest ruling followed an application by the PMP, which argued that it had previously submitted the same “victory sign” logo to INEC long before the NDC registration process began.
Following the decision, the NDC rejected the ruling, insisting that the Federal High Court lacked the jurisdiction to revisit and overturn its own final judgment.
The Party maintained that issues surrounding its registration had already been conclusively settled and vowed to challenge the latest ruling at the appellate court.
The court’s decision has effectively reopened the battle over the NDC’s recognition, setting the stage for what could become one of Nigeria’s most closely watched political and legal contests ahead of the 2027 general elections.
