Court Nullifies Order That Led to NDC Registration, Puts Party’s Legal Status in Doubt

The legal status of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has been thrown into uncertainty after a Federal High Court reportedly set aside its earlier judgment that directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the political party.

The latest ruling effectively nullifies the order upon which INEC relied in issuing the NDC its certificate of registration, marking a significant twist in the legal battle over the party’s recognition.

The NDC had secured registration earlier this year after a Federal High Court in Lokoja ordered INEC to register it as a political party. Acting on that judgment, the electoral commission formally added the NDC to the list of registered political parties despite the party not being among the associations that had advanced through INEC’s standard registration process.

The registration immediately attracted controversy, with the All Democratic Alliance (ADA) and some political stakeholders alleging that the process did not comply with constitutional provisions, the Electoral Act and INEC’s own registration guidelines. They subsequently approached the court, seeking to invalidate the registration.

In the latest development, the court reportedly vacated its previous order compelling INEC to register the NDC, effectively cancelling the legal basis upon which the party was recognised. The decision is expected to have significant implications for the party’s continued recognition by INEC and any political activities carried out under its registration.

The NDC had recently gained national attention following the defection of several prominent politicians to the platform, making the court’s decision particularly consequential for the evolving political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.

As of the time of filing this report, INEC had not publicly announced the administrative steps it would take in response to the latest judgment. Legal observers say the commission’s next action, as well as any possible appeal by affected parties, will determine the NDC’s future on Nigeria’s political register.