Court cancels order to deregister NDC

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has cancelled the earlier ruling by the Federal High Court in Lokoja. This ruling had asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that in June, the Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, reversed its earlier decision to register the NDC as a political party.

This decision followed a request from the Peace Movement Party (PMP). They argued that the December 2025 ruling should be cancelled because they were not included in the case.

Judge Isah Dashen agreed with the PMP and said all parties involved must be heard before any final decision is made. He ruled that leaving out the PMP made the whole process invalid and ordered that things return to how they were before the December 2025 ruling, until the main case is settled.

The NDC then appealed against this ruling.

Ruling Cancelled

On Friday, the Court of Appeal in Abuja cancelled the lower court's decision that ordered INEC to deregister the NDC.

Seriake Dickson, the National Leader of the NDC, shared the news on his X handle. Mr. Dickson, who is also a senator, said Justice Mohammed Danjuma delivered the ruling, which was read by Justice Sule Hassan.

“We want to use this opportunity once again to commend the Nigerian judiciary, and in particular, Hon. Justice Danjuma and Hon. Justice Hassan, for upholding the integrity of the Nigerian judiciary and, by their decisions, expanding the sphere of multiparty democratic participation in Nigeria,” he said.

'Unwelcome Attack'

Mr. Dickson described the earlier ruling by Judge Dashen as an “unwelcome attack on our constitutional right to participate and an attempt to narrow the democratic space.”

“Thankfully, today, by the decision of the Court of Appeal, the Nigerian democratic space has been protected, and the NDC’s right to participate in all political activities as a registered political party has been upheld,” he said.

Mr. Dickson remembered that when the first ruling came out, NDC leaders received “numerous calls” for sympathy, support, and prayers.

“Today, our collective prayers have been answered. The NDC continues to exist. Our registration remains valid and subsisting, and we and all our candidates will participate in all elections in 2027 and beyond, by the grace of God,” he stated.

“With this belief, we look forward to the upcoming elections and are confident that the NDC will win at the polls, by the grace of God.