NDC Deregistration: We Are Waiting For The Certified True Copy Of Judgment – INEC

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said that it can neither comment nor act on the  court judgment which nullified the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC.

A Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, presided over by Honourable Justice Isah Dashen, had, on Friday, June 26 2026, ordered the INEC to deregister the NDC as a political party, after setting aside an earlier ruling in December, 2025, which had compelled the electoral umpire to register it.

Justice Dashen held that the 2025 ruling did not reflect the interest of a critical party in  the matter – the Peace Movement Party.

He consequently ordered for a fresh trial of the motion on notice that resulted in the 2025 judgment with PMP now an interested party.

But reacting to the development on Saturday, Adedayo Oketola ,the spokesperson for the INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, informed that until the Commission will reserve action until it receives a Certified True Copy CTC of the said judgment.

According to him, the INEC at the moment has not been availed the CTC of the judgment, and is only aware of the said court ruling through information from the media.

“The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC is aware of reports circulating in the media regarding the judgment delivered on Friday June 26, 2026, by a Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, which set aside an earlier order concerning the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress NDC.

“However, as of this moment, the Commission has not yet received the Certified True Copy CTC of the court’s order

“Once the Commission’s legal department receives and thoroughly studies the CTC of the judgment, INEC will take an informed, lawful decision in line with the court’s directives.

” Until then, we cannot comment on the specifics of the ruling, and the public is urged to await the Commission’s position on the matter”,the statement reads.

However, the leadership of the NDC has not only refected the court’s decision, but has resolved to immediately appeal with a view reversing it.

The NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, the National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, and the National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, had also separately and collectively condemned the Court’s judgment, describing it as a huge assault  on, and set back for democracy in the country.