Fresh Setback For Peter Obi As Court Voids NDC Registration

A Federal High Court in Lokoja has nullified the judgment that compelled INEC to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), ordering the case to begin afresh after ruling that all interested parties were not heard before the earlier decision was delivered.

The Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja has set aside its earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party, reopening the legal battle over the party's recognition.

In a ruling delivered on Friday, Justice Isah Dashen held that the previous judgment was constitutionally defective because it was made without hearing all parties whose interests were directly affected by the case.

The court ruled that the Peace Movement Party (PMP) was a necessary party to the suit and should have been joined before any decision was reached on the registration of the NDC.

Justice Dashen said the failure to hear all interested parties rendered the earlier proceedings null and void.

Consequently, the judge restored all parties to the position they occupied before the court's December 10, 2025 judgment, which had compelled INEC to register the NDC.

The court also ordered that the substantive suit be heard afresh, with INEC, the Nigeria Democratic Congress and the Peace Movement Party participating as parties in the proceedings.

The judge further observed that certain material facts were not disclosed during the earlier proceedings, saying the omission provided sufficient grounds to vacate the judgment.

Logo dispute at centre of case

Speaking after the ruling, counsel to the Peace Movement Party, Chikezie Ekeocha, said his client approached the court after discovering that the NDC's registration was allegedly based on a party logo that the PMP had earlier submitted to INEC before the commencement of the suit.

According to him, the court agreed that the party's interests had been affected by the earlier judgment.

"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 so that the issues in dispute can be completely determined," Ekeocha told journalists.

He explained that the ruling effectively reverses every action taken by INEC pursuant to the now-vacated judgment.

According to him, the NDC's recognition as a political party, the issuance of its certificate of registration and its inclusion in INEC's records are all affected by the court's decision pending the determination of the substantive suit.

However, Ekeocha clarified that Friday's ruling does not determine the merits of the registration dispute.

"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 said.

He also dismissed suggestions that the court merely ordered parties to maintain the status quo, insisting that the ruling specifically restored the legal position that existed before the December 2025 judgment.

Fresh legal battle ahead

The ruling means the dispute over the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress will now proceed to a fresh hearing before the Federal High Court, with all relevant parties expected to present their cases.

The court did not determine whether the NDC is entitled to registration. Instead, it nullified the earlier judgment that compelled INEC to register the party on the grounds that affected parties were not heard.

The outcome of the fresh proceedings will determine whether the NDC can ultimately retain or regain recognition as a registered political party.

The decision represents a significant legal setback for the party but does not amount to a final judgment on its eligibility for registration. That question will now be decided after the court hears all parties involved in the dispute.