Political Earthquake: INEC Faces Uproar Over Controversial NDC Deregistration Ruling

The Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, has ignited widespread condemnation following its decision on Friday, June 26, 2026, to set aside an earlier judgment. This previous ruling, delivered on December 10, 2025, had directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Nigeria Democratic Coalition (NDC) as a political party. Presiding judge, Justice Isah Dashen, presided over both decisions.

Reacting to the latest development, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) stated that it was awaiting the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the court’s ruling. Adedayo Oketola, INEC's Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the Chairman, confirmed the commission’s awareness of the media reports but stressed that it could not comment on the specifics until the CTC was obtained and thoroughly reviewed. A top INEC official, preferring anonymity, indicated that the commission’s legal department would study the judgment upon receipt of the CTC before advising on the next course of action, urging the public to await INEC's formal position.

The court’s decision has drawn sharp criticism from prominent political figures and legal experts. Atiku Abubakar, a former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), condemned the ruling, describing the attempt to deregister the NDC through judicial means as evidence of President Bola Tinubu’s desperate determination to impose a de facto one-party system in Nigeria. Atiku alleged a sinister plot to weaken opposition parties to facilitate Tinubu's success in the 2027 election, warning that stifling citizens' freedom of choice could lead to chaos and anarchy. He urged Tinubu to learn from past presidents like Muhammadu Buhari and Goodluck Jonathan, who did not suppress opposition, and reminded him that "political ambition should not be worth the blood of any citizen." Atiku also advised judges to resist being used by "dishonorable politicians" aiming to undermine the nation's democracy.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) echoed these concerns, alleging a coordinated attempt to weaken opposition parties ahead of forthcoming general elections. In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party warned that Nigeria risks sliding into a one-party state if the "growing assault on democracy" is not checked. The ADC expressed concern over a succession of legal and administrative actions targeting opposition parties, arguing that such actions weaken the opposition, narrow the democratic space, and consolidate power, ultimately impacting the Nigerian people's right to freely choose among credible political alternatives.

Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Femi Falana, vehemently faulted the court’s ruling on legal grounds. He insisted that a judge lacks the power to overturn his or her own final decision, citing the legal doctrine of `functus officio`. Falana maintained that once a court delivers a final judgment, any dissatisfied party ought to challenge it before a higher court, not ask the same judge to reverse the decision. He further argued that all actions taken pursuant to the earlier December 2025 judgment, including the NDC’s primary elections, remain legally valid and cannot be retrospectively set aside by the same court. Falana also expressed concern about a "disturbing trend" within the Federal High Court, alleging that some judicial decisions threaten Nigeria's multi-party democratic system by facilitating the deregistration of opposition political parties while the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) remains unaffected.

Investment banker and economist Atedo Peterside also joined the chorus of condemnation, suggesting that "judicial rascality" can be curbed not just by relying on Appeal Courts to overturn "obnoxious judgments," but also through disciplinary actions against judges. Peterside supported Senator Sola Akinyede’s view that judicial systems are sustained by "judicial decency & integrity," and that the absence of enforcement by the Chief Justice of Nigeria could lead to the Nigerian Judiciary’s self-destruction and the truncation of democracy.

Justice Dashen’s rationale for setting aside the December 10, 2025, judgment was based on the argument that the rights of the Peace Movement Party were affected. The court held that the Peace Movement Party was not joined in the initial suit, despite claiming ownership of the logo that the NDC relied upon to secure its registration order. Consequently, the court ordered that all parties be restored to the positions they occupied before the December 2025 judgment and directed that the substantive suit be heard afresh with all necessary parties joined.

Despite the court’s ruling, the Nigeria Democratic Coalition (NDC) has rejected the decision and announced its plans to file an appeal. This indicates a continued legal battle over the party's registration status and its ability to participate in future elections.