Political Storm Brews as NDC Faces Deregistration, Sparks Mixed Reactions and Debate

A Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, has set aside its earlier judgment that directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party. This ruling on Friday has cast a shadow over the 2027 presidential ambitions of figures like Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, whose political activities are intertwined with the NDC.

Justice Isah Dashen, who delivered the ruling, cited that the court’s earlier judgment, issued on December 15, 2025, affected the rights of the Peace Movement Party (PMP). PMP claimed ownership of the logo adopted by the NDC and was not joined as a party in the original suit. According to counsel to the PMP, C.S. Ekeocha, their association approached the court after discovering that the NDC's registration was based on a logo PMP had earlier submitted to INEC before the initial litigation commenced. This decision means the dispute over the NDC’s registration will return to the Federal High Court for a fresh hearing, with all relevant parties now expected to participate.

The NDC leadership has vehemently rejected the judgment, insisting the party has not been deregistered. Ikenna Enekweizu, the National Secretary of the NDC, speaking on Arise News, pointed out that the court had previously established PMP does not exist and was not among the political parties that applied to INEC for registration. He clarified that INEC's initial refusal to register NDC was due to its logo resembling that of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a reason later abandoned by INEC during the original court hearing. Enekweizu argued that once INEC admitted its original reason for refusal was invalid, it conceded to the judgment for NDC’s registration. National Leader of the NDC, Seriake Dickson, described the ruling as illegal, lacking legal merit, and designed to undermine the party’s credibility and progress. He stated that after the December 2025 judgment, INEC registered the NDC, allowing it to commence political activities, register members, conduct congresses, and hold primaries. The NDC leadership maintains that the Federal High Court had become “functus officio” (lacked jurisdiction to revisit its own final judgment) after its December 2025 decision. The party has instructed its legal team to immediately challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal, questioning both the jurisdiction of the court and the propriety of the decision, assuring members that the party remains on course.

The ruling has triggered widespread reactions across the political spectrum. Peter Obi, the NDC presidential candidate, alleged that forces within the Federal Government are working to prevent him from appearing on the ballot in 2027. Speaking at Madonna University, Obi vowed that these efforts would fail and urged his supporters to remain peaceful. The Obidient Movement echoed this sentiment, condemning the court decision and vowing to resist attempts to turn Nigeria into a one-party state. The movement’s Media and Communication Directorate stated that these contradictory judicial pronouncements reinforce public concerns that the judiciary is being deployed as an instrument of partisan politics rather than an impartial arbiter.

Offering a legal perspective, human rights lawyer Barr Maximus Ugwuoke explained that while a court generally becomes “functus officio” after delivering judgment, recognized exceptions allow it to revisit and set aside its own decision. These circumstances include judgments obtained by fraud or a constitutional breach, such as the denial of a fair hearing where a necessary party was not joined, especially if that party was unaware of the original case. Ugwuoke noted that while legally permissible, such developments could weaken public confidence in the judiciary, making the certainty and finality of court judgments questionable. He suggested the NDC has two options: to convince the court to proceed with registration despite PMP's inclusion, or to appeal the ruling that set aside the original decision.

Political analysts and opposition figures have voiced strong concerns about the broader implications for Nigeria’s democracy. Rev. Dr. Okechukwu Christopher Obioha, Leader of the Njiko Igbo Forum, warned that Nigeria might not successfully conduct the 2027 general election if Peter Obi is prevented from contesting, expressing a severe loss of public trust in the judiciary, which he accused the current administration of weakening. Nduka Odo, a political analyst at Peaceland University, alleged that the court has become a tool to destabilize democracy, citing recent rulings affecting opposition parties like the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the NDC. He argued that democracy cannot thrive without a strong opposition and warned that weakening these parties could pave the way for a one-party state, questioning the legal basis for deregistering a party over its logo. Paul Ibe, an aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, also linked the Lokoja court’s decision to a broader attempt by President Bola Tinubu to weaken the opposition ahead of 2027, urging opposition parties to unite. Mahmud Jega, another political analyst, advised President Tinubu to openly condemn the judiciary's attitude towards opposition parties, emphasizing the risk to Nigeria’s democracy and recalling how former President Obasanjo intervened in a similar situation in 2001.

The current dispute surrounding the NDC’s registration highlights significant challenges to Nigeria’s multi-party democratic system. As the NDC prepares to challenge the ruling at the Appeal Court, the outcome will be closely watched by political stakeholders and citizens, with many fearing the potential erosion of democratic principles ahead of the crucial 2027 general election.