Court tells INEC to accept NDC’s new logo

The Federal High Court in Abuja has told the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to approve and quickly upload the new logo of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for use in upcoming elections.

Judge Joyce Abdulmalik gave this order in a decision made on Tuesday. This was part of a case the NDC filed against INEC on 11 August.

The court’s order, which outlines the main points of the judgment, was shared on X late Wednesday by Seriake Dickson, the national leader of the party.

The court ordered INEC "to forthwith approve the modified logo design of the Plaintiff, including its symbol and colours … for use by the plaintiff as its official logo for all purposes as a political party including for all elections conducted by the Defendant in Nigeria."

The modified logo is described as a digitally designed “Two fingers victory sign” on a blue background, with “NDC” written in red.

Besides ordering INEC to approve the logo, Mrs Abdulmalik also granted a permanent injunction. This stops INEC, its staff, and agents from interfering with the NDC’s use of this new logo.

The court further told INEC to upload the new logo to its official website right away so the NDC can use it in all elections organized by the commission.

The court ruled that INEC’s refusal to allow the NDC to change its colors and logo was unconstitutional, illegal, and violated the party’s rights.

Judge Abdulmalik made this decision after looking at the Nigerian constitution. This included Sections 221, 222(A) to (F), 14(1)(C), 7(2)(a), and 40, and Article 11 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

She highlighted that Nigeria “shall be a state based on principles of democracy and social justice.”

The judge also pointed out that citizens should participate in government according to the Constitution. This means “every citizen shall have equality of rights, obligations and opportunities before the law.”

The court found that INEC’s refusal to allow the NDC to modify its logo was wrong and illegal.

In his post on X, Mr Dickson welcomed the judgment. He called it a “vindication of the NDC’s position” in its fight with INEC over the logo.

Mr Dickson, who is a former governor of Bayelsa State and a senator for Bayelsa West, explained that the party had earlier approved and sent the new logo to INEC after its first National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting. He said INEC had uploaded it but later removed it.

He added that they replaced the new logo with the original one without giving the party any reason.

Mr Dickson said the NDC waited for INEC to fix the issue before going to court.

Now that the court has agreed with the party, Mr Dickson told the party’s candidates and members to start using the new logo on campaign materials, including banners and posters.

He also told members not to worry about the change, saying both logos keep the two-finger victory sign.

He mentioned that a formal statement would be made to guide candidates, members, and voters on the approved logo.

The argument about the NDC’s registration began when INEC first refused to register the party because of its logo.

The NDC, which has Peter Obi as its presidential candidate for the 2027 election, challenged INEC’s decision in the Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State.

On 10 December 2025, the court said INEC had to recognize and register the NDC as a political party.

INEC later complied and announced the NDC’s registration in February.

But there was another legal challenge after the Peace Movement Party (PMP) claimed the NDC’s logo was similar to one it had submitted to INEC earlier.

The PMP argued that it should have been included in the case before the court ordered INEC to register the NDC.

In June, Isah Dashen, a judge at the Federal High Court in Lokoja, overturned the previous ruling that allowed the NDC’s registration.

The judge said the PMP should have been heard before the earlier decision.

As a result, the court returned to the situation before the 10 December 2025 ruling and told that the case be heard again with INEC, the NDC, and PMP involved.

But the NDC did not accept the ruling and appealed. The party insisted that there was no order for INEC to deregister it.