A Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja has set aside its earlier judgment that ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party.
The ruling was delivered on Friday by Justice Isah Dashen, who held that the previous decision was made without hearing all necessary parties involved in the dispute.
Justice Dashen ruled that the earlier judgment was constitutionally flawed because a key interested party, the Peace Movement Party (PMP), was not heard before the decision was reached.
He stated that the omission violated the principle of fair hearing, making the judgment null and void.
According to the court, all parties with interest in the matter must be properly joined before any substantive decision can be validly made.
The court ordered that the situation be returned to what it was before the December 10, 2025 judgment that had granted recognition to the NDC.
It also directed that the case be heard afresh with all relevant parties, including INEC, PMP, and the NDC, fully joined.
Justice Dashen further noted that certain key facts were not disclosed during the earlier proceedings, which influenced the decision to overturn the judgment.
The court’s decision effectively suspends all actions taken by INEC in compliance with the earlier judgment.
This includes the registration of the NDC as a political party, issuance of its certificate of registration, and any related inclusion in electoral records or ballot arrangements.
However, the judge clarified that the substantive case has not been concluded and will proceed for full hearing.
Counsel to the applicant, Mr Chikezie Ekeocha, said the Peace Movement Party approached the court after discovering that the NDC’s registration was allegedly linked to a logo earlier submitted to INEC.
He said the court agreed that PMP’s interests were affected and must be properly considered before a final decision is reached.
Ekeocha stressed that the case will now restart afresh, with all parties given opportunity to present their arguments.
