“We are on Course, Focused On The Task Ahead” – NDC Assures Nigerians

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)”