The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has insisted that it remains a registered political party despite Friday’s Federal High Court ruling that set aside the earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register it.
In a statement issued after the court’s decision, the party said reports suggesting it had been deregistered were false, stressing that the ruling did not expressly order its removal from INEC’s register.
The NDC said it was surprised by the court’s decision to vacate its December 2025 judgment following an application filed by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which it described as an unregistered association unknown to the party.
According to the NDC, after the December 2025 judgment, INEC officially registered the party, allowing it to begin full political activities, including membership registration, the conduct of ward, state and national congresses, conventions and party primaries in line with the electoral timetable.
The party added that it had already participated in recent bye-elections in Nasarawa and Enugu states and had also nominated candidates for the House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, governorship, presidential and vice-presidential elections.
The NDC argued that the Federal High Court had already delivered its final judgment in the matter and had resolved issues relating to the party’s logo and colours, insisting that the Peace Movement Party was neither a registered political party nor part of the registration process.
The party announced that its legal team had been directed to immediately challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal, questioning the court’s jurisdiction and the basis of its decision.
“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.”
The party also alleged that certain individuals were attempting to weaken Nigeria’s democratic space and silence opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
