The leadership of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, has assured its members and supporters that the party is on course with its activities, despite Friday’s ruling of a Federal High Court in Lokoja setting aside an earlier decision on the party’s registration.
Reacting to the ruling by Justice Isah Dashen on an application filed by an organisation known as Peace Movement Party, the NDC noted that there was no order directing its deregistration as a political party.
NDC’s reaction is contained in a statement issued by its National Chairman, Sen. Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe.
The party said it has instructed its lawyers to file an appeal against Justice Dashen’s ruling.
“There was no order directing our deregistration. However, we are dissatisfied with the decision that has been made, and we have instructed our team of lawyers to immediately proceed to the Court of Appeal to challenge the jurisdiction and propriety of His Lordship’s order.
“We assure the general public, and particularly our candidates at all levels, that our party is on course.
“The NDC has not been deregistered, and we are challenging today’s order at the Court of Appeal as soon as possible. We have no doubt that justice will be done,” the party said in the statement.
The NDC in its statement further said: “The public knows that by December 2025, the Nigeria Democratic Congress as an association complained of INEC’s refusal to register us as a political party, whereupon we proceeded to the Federal High Court.
“The Federal High Court upheld our constitutional right to freedom of association under the Constitution and compelled INEC to register us, which INEC did.
“Since then, we have started political activities, embarked on the registration of members, held congresses from ward to national levels, held conventions, and concluded primaries to all offices following INEC’s timetable. We have been fully participating in all INEC activities without let or hindrance.
“NDC also fielded candidates, and fully participated, in the just-concluded bye elections in Nasarawa and Enugu states.
“Candidates for the House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, Governorship, Presidential, and Vice-Presidential positions have been duly nominated, and we are in the process of formally submitting them to INEC in accordance with INEC’s timetable.”
The NDC noted that the application on which Justice Dashen gave his ruling was filed by an unregistered association.
“The association that filed the complaint is unknown to us. The Peace Movement Party (PMP) is not a registered political party in Nigeria.
“They claimed, in a motion (not even a substantive suit or appeal), that the court should set aside its earlier judgment on the purported ground that, in 2015, they had sought registration as a political party with the victory sign as their symbol and were denied.
“It is important to note that they are not an association applying for registration now under the exercise that started last year.
“They are also not a registered political party in Nigeria participating in the political process now, as we are.”
Pointing out that the court dealt with all the issues raised against it in its earlier decision, the NDC expressed surprise that Justice Dashen agreed that the organisation had the locus standi to bring the application before him and assumed jurisdiction over it.
“Furthermore, the court, having delivered a final judgment in our suit against INEC, had become functus officio.
“The court had also dealt with all related issues concerning associations claiming they wanted to use the same symbol and colours.
“The court, in its judgment, overruled INEC when those issues were raised, and there is no appeal against that judgment.
“Therefore, we are surprised that, on an application by an association claiming that it wanted to register as a political party with the victory sign in 2015, an association that is not a registered political party and is not seeking registration now to participate in the current political process, His Lordship came to the conclusion that they have locus standi, and furthermore, that he has jurisdiction to do what he did.”
The party expressed hope that justice would be done in the matter, adding that matter had been concluded in Justice Dashen’s earlier decision and has become status barred.
“The NDC has not been deregistered, and we are challenging today’s order at the Court of Appeal as soon as possible. We have no doubt that justice will be done.
“We condemn efforts by those who seek to shrink the democratic space and stifle opposition voices and alternatives.
“Nigerians have a right to a full range of opinions, ideas, and alternatives, and political platforms and candidates should be allowed to participate in the 2027 general election process, which has already gone midway.
“It is too late for anyone to attempt to use the judiciary to derail or narrow Nigeria’s multi-party democratic space. If the said association (Peace Movement Party) were a party affected by the judgment on our initial suit, the only option open to it was to appeal the verdict, an option which it did not take. Even at that, the window open for such appeal has since closed and any such appeal by now has become statute-barred.
“To now try to upturn that verdict through the back door, via a motion, is not only unheard-of, but also illegal and an outright abuse of court process.
“We thank Nigerians for their support, and we thank all our candidates, members and supporters for their confidence and trust in the party. We assure them that all nominations made remain valid, that our platform is strong and legal, and that justice will be served,” the NDC stated.
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