By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, has sued  for calm among members, supporters and the general public, insisting  that the party remain focused and on course.

This is as it assured that it has not been deregistered, and that all nominations made ahead of the 2027 general elections remain valid.

The party’s assurance is coming against the backdrop of the judgment delivered by a Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja on Friday, quashing earlier Court order compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC to register NDC as a party.

The Court had, in December 2025, ordered the INEC to register  the NDC as a political party, with the electoral umpire complying accordingly.

However, while ruling on a motion filed by Peace Movement Party, PMP, in Lokoja, Kogi State capital, trial Judge Honourable Justice Isah Dashen while nullifying the earlier decision mandating INEC to register NDC, also ordered all parties to return to the status quo before December 2025.

But reacting to the judgment, the party, in a statement issued by its National Chairman Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, while expressing shock and disbelief, informed that all efforts are underway to appeal and reverse the strange judgment.

The NDC said it is surprised that such a weighty judgment could be delivered based on a motion filed by an unregistered association, which is not known to it as a party.

The party emphasized that all the issues purportedly raised by the PMP at the Lokoja High had earlier been dealt with and decided by the court in December 2025.

The NDC similarly questioned the locus standi of the PMP to institute the case, being not a registered association, as well as not known to be seeking registration as political party.

The party condemned orchestrated attempts by some vested interests to seek to shrink the democratic space, through the suppression of opposition voices.

However, the party warned that it is rather too late for anyone under any guise to narrow and or derail the country’s democratic space.

Following is the full text of the NDC statement.

“Our attention has been drawn to a ruling by the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja this morning, wherein His Lordship, Honourable Justice Isah Dashen, gave a ruling on an application filed by an unregistered association known as Peace Movement Party.

“The public knows that by December 2025, the Nigeria Democratic Congress  as an association complained of INEC’s refusal to register us as a political party, whereupon we proceeded to the Federal High Court. The Federal High Court upheld our constitutional right to freedom of association under the Constitution and compelled INEC to register us, which INEC did.

“Since then, we have started political activities, embarked on the registration of members, held congresses from ward to national levels, held conventions, and concluded primaries to all offices following INEC’s timetable. We have been fully participating in all INEC activities without let or hindrance.

“NDC also fielded candidates, and fully participated, in the just-concluded bye elections in Nasarawa and Enugu states.

“Candidates for the House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, Governorship, Presidential, and Vice-Presidential positions have been duly nominated, and we are in the process of formally submitting them to INEC in accordance with INEC’s timetable.

“The association that filed the complaint is unknown to us. The Peace Movement Party (PMP) is not a registered political party in Nigeria. They claimed, in a motion (not even a substantive suit or appeal), that the court should set aside its earlier judgment on the purported ground that, in 2015, they had sought registration as a political party with the victory sign as their symbol and were denied.

“It is important to note that they are not an association applying for registration now under the exercise that started last year. They are also not a registered political party in Nigeria participating in the political process now, as we are.

“Furthermore, the court, having delivered a final judgment in our suit against INEC, had become functus officio. The court had also dealt with all related issues concerning associations claiming they wanted to use the same symbol and colours. The court, in its judgment, overruled INEC when those issues were raised, and there is no appeal against that judgment.

“Therefore, we are surprised that, on an application by an association claiming that it wanted to register as a political party with the victory sign in 2015, an association that is not a registered political party and is not seeking registration now to participate in the current political process, His Lordship came to the conclusion that they have locus standi, and furthermore, that he has jurisdiction to do what he did.

“Accordingly, we have been informed that His Lordship made an order setting aside the court’s earlier decision of December 2025.

“There was no order directing our deregistration. However, we are dissatisfied with the decision that has been made, and we have instructed our team of lawyers to immediately proceed to the Court of Appeal to challenge the jurisdiction and propriety of His Lordship’s order.

“We assure the general public, and particularly our candidates at all levels, that our party is on course. The NDC has not been deregistered, and we are challenging today’s order at the Court of Appeal as soon as possible. We have no doubt that justice will be done.

“We condemn efforts by those who seek to shrink the democratic space and stifle opposition voices and alternatives. Nigerians have a right to a full range of opinions, ideas, and alternatives, and political platforms and candidates should be allowed to participate in the 2027 general election process, which has already gone midway.

“It is too late for anyone to attempt to use the judiciary to derail or narrow Nigeria’s multi-party democratic space. If the said association (Peace Movement Party) were a party affected by the judgment on our initial suit, the only option open to it was to appeal the verdict, an option which it did not take. Even at that, the window open for such appeal has since closed and any such appeal by now has become statute-barred.

“To now try to upturn that verdict through the back door, via a motion, is not only unheard-of,  but also illegal and an outright abuse of court process.

“We thank Nigerians for their support, and we thank all our candidates, members and supporters for their confidence and trust in the party. We assure them that all nominations made remain valid, that our platform is strong and legal, and that justice will be served.

“Signed:

Sen. Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe

National Chairman, Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC)”

By Ayodele Oni

Activist Aisha Yesufu has revealed reasons for her refusal to obtain nomination form for the House of  Representatives under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). She did not want to be part of “irregularities”, she disclosed.

According to her, she turned down an offer to contest for a seat in the House of Representatives because “About 20 people had picked up forms for the ticket and I was not going to be part of irregularities.”

She was speaking at a public lecture on citizens’ participation in governance at Veritas University in Abuja.

Yesufu stated that she rejected the ticket because about 20 people had already purchased nomination forms and were contesting for the position.

“I was not going to be part of that system even though it was going to benefit me,” she said.

She explained that accepting the ticket would have unfairly affected other aspirants who had spent money and effort pursuing the position.

“The reason I didn’t take it was because of the process. There were about 20 competent people from whom money had been collected during the process who would be shortchanged,” she stated.

Describing the arrangement as unfair, Yesufu said: “The process was unjust; in my view, it was criminal. If we claim to be guided by the law, then why should we do something unjust?”

She added that she would rather lose than benefit from an unfair political process.

“I have no problem with losing. I would rather stand with ordinary people than pursue titles and honours through an unfair process. That is how I have always lived my life,” she said.

She also urged young Nigerians to become more involved in politics, stressing that political participation should go beyond voting during elections.

National Leader of the NDC, Seriake Dickson, had revealed that he and the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, initially offered activist Aisha Yesufu a ticket to contest for the House of Representatives, but she declined.

Dickson made the disclosure during a stakeholders’ meeting of the party held in Abuja, amid ongoing internal disagreements within the party.

According to him, the offer was made as part of efforts to involve Yesufu in the party’s political structure, but she reportedly rejected it, saying she was “too big” for the position.

“AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency was offered to Aisha. Dickson told her, ‘I can do this one for her. Even if there are people who have been asking, this one I can give to her unopposed.

“I will make sure she emerges unopposed. No need for primaries. It will be: this is who the party is going with, full stop. This is Peter Obi’s candidate. This is Seriake Dickson’s candidate, full stop.’

“Aisha declined. Apparently she is too big for the House of Representatives; she wants to start with the Senate.

“Even our presidential candidate, Peter Obi, told Aisha, ‘See, take this thing. If I am lying, Aisha should respond and tell me that I am lying.’ He told Aisha, ‘Take this thing. This is good for your career. This is good for your trajectory. You have not been in an elective office before.’

“Aisha said no.”

Peter Obi Media Reach. POMR has been bombarded with calls from the newsrooms and other concerned persons on the strange court ruling from a High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State. Below are our initial responses to inquiries pending legal views on it.

​”We have received the news of today’s bizarre ruling from the court in Lokoja regarding the legal status of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). While our

 legal teams are thoroughly reviewing the judgment to initiate immediate corrective and appellate measures,  our Principal urges all our supporters, coalition partners, and patriots nationwide to remain absolutely calm and focused.

​We always knew that the journey to dismantle a deeply entrenched and grossly underperforming political status quo would be met with fierce institutional resistance and unexpected legal detours.

 Today’s ruling is a hurdle, not a stop sign. Our commitment to providing a transparent, legitimate, and formidable alternative for Nigerians remains unshakeable. The platform we are building is robust, and our legal rights will be vigorously pursued. Do not be discouraged; the vehicle may face a temporary breakdown, but our destination remains non-negotiable.”

​

By Ayodele Oni

Hope of candidates seeking to contest the 2027 general elections on the ticket of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, (NDC), seems uncertain as a Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State, has set aside its earlier judgment of December 10, 2025, which  compelled the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the party.

Delivering a ruling on Friday, in Suit No. FHC/LKJ/CS/49/2025, Justice Isah Dashen held that all relevant parties must be heard before any substantive decision can be made in the matter.

The court upheld the application filed by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), ruling that the party is a necessary party to the suit.

Justice Dashen noted that counsel to the PMP successfully demonstrated the party’s legal interest, which warranted its inclusion in the proceedings.

According to the Judge, the earlier judgment was constitutionally defective as it was delivered without hearing from all interested parties.

He declared that such an omission rendered the entire process null and void.

Justice Dashen further ruled that the status quo be restored to what it was before the December 2025 judgment, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

He also observed that certain material facts were suppressed in the earlier proceedings, which justified the decision to set aside the judgment.

Consequently, the Court ordered that the substantive suit commence afresh, with INEC, the Peace Movement Party (PMP), and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as parties to the case.

Counsel to the applicant, C.S. Ekeocha, told journalists that the Peace Movement Party approached the court after discovering that the NDC’s registration was based on a logo it had previously submitted to INEC before the commencement of the suit.

According to Ekeocha, the court agreed that the applicant’s rights had been affected and consequently vacated 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 to ensure the issues in dispute are effectually and completely determined,” he said.

He explained that the implication of the ruling is that every action taken by INEC in compliance with the now-vacated judgment stands reversed.

“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 stated.

He, however, clarified that the substantive case remains before the court and has not been decided.

“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.”

Ekeocha also dismissed suggestions that the court merely ordered parties to maintain the status quo, insisting that the ruling specifically directed a restoration of the position that existed before the December 10, 2025 judgment.

The ruling effectively returns the dispute over the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress to the Federal High Court for a fresh hearing, with all relevant parties expected to participate before a new determination is made.