A Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja has vacated its earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party, ordering that the matter be heard afresh after all affected parties have been joined in the suit.
In a ruling delivered on Friday, Justice Isah Dashen held that the court’s judgment of December 10, 2025 could not stand because it affected the interests of the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which was not made a party to the proceedings despite laying claim to the logo that formed part of the dispute.
The court consequently restored all parties to the positions they occupied before the December 10, 2025 judgment and directed the claimants to include every necessary party before the substantive issues are determined.
Speaking after the ruling, counsel to the Peace Movement Party, C.S. Ekeocha, explained that his client approached the court after discovering that the NDC’s registration had been secured using a logo the PMP had earlier submitted to INEC before the suit was instituted.
According to him, the court agreed that the party’s interests had been adversely affected by the earlier proceedings.
“The court has ordered all parties to return to the position they occupied before the judgment of December 10, 2025, and directed the claimants to join all necessary parties to ensure the issues in dispute are effectually and completely determined,” he said.
Ekeocha maintained that the immediate effect of the judgment was that all actions taken by INEC pursuant to the now-vacated decision could no longer stand.
“The recognition of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, the issuance of its certificate of registration, its inclusion in INEC’s records, and any appearance on ballot papers arising from that judgment must be withdrawn pending the final determination of the substantive suit,” Ekeocha added.
He, however, stressed that the litigation over the party’s registration had not come to an end, explaining that the court merely reopened the matter to ensure every interested party is given a fair hearing.
“The matter has not been concluded. The court merely set aside its previous judgment and directed that the party whose interests were affected be joined so that all sides can be heard before a fresh decision is reached,” he added.
Ekeocha also rejected suggestions that the court merely ordered parties to maintain the status quo, insisting that the decision expressly restored the legal position that existed before the December 10, 2025 judgment, pending the determination of the substantive suit.
(Ripples)
