The Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR) has dismissed the Federal High Court ruling reversing the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), describing it as a temporary legal setback that cannot derail the broader movement for political change associated with the former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
In a statement issued on Friday, POMR spokesman, Idris Zekeri Jnr, said the judgment should not be interpreted as a political defeat for the movement, insisting that the aspirations driving support for Obi and the NDC remain intact.
According to him, the ruling represents a legal development that will be challenged through the appellate process and does not diminish the growing public demand for accountable leadership and national renewal.
“What happened today is a legal development, not a political verdict,” Zekeri said. “It is a procedural setback, not a rejection of the vision, values and aspirations that have drawn millions of Nigerians to the NDC and to the leadership of Mr. Peter Obi.”
The Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja had earlier set aside its previous judgment that facilitated the registration of the NDC and reportedly directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw recognition of the party pending further legal processes.
Reacting to the development, POMR said its legal team had commenced a review of the judgment and was preparing an appeal aimed at overturning the decision.
Zekeri argued that the desire for political change transcends the fate of any single political platform and cannot be extinguished by a court ruling.
“The NDC was born out of the yearning of Nigerians for competent, accountable and people-oriented leadership. That yearning did not begin with a certificate of registration and it cannot be extinguished by the withdrawal of one,” he stated.
He maintained that millions of Nigerians had invested their hopes in the broader objective of national transformation rather than in a political certificate, stressing that the movement remained firmly on course.
“The movement remains alive. The mission remains alive. The destination remains unchanged,” he said.
The spokesman urged supporters across the country to remain calm and focused, noting that efforts to reform entrenched political structures often encounter resistance and institutional obstacles.
“Every effort to challenge an entrenched political order inevitably attracts resistance. What matters is our collective resolve to continue pursuing change through lawful, democratic and constitutional means,” he added.
Zekeri further insisted that no judicial ruling could erase what he described as widespread public demand for competent leadership and accountable governance.
“No court ruling can erase the widespread demand for competent leadership. No judicial process can deregister the hopes of millions of Nigerians. No temporary setback can extinguish the conviction that Nigeria can work,” he said.
While reaffirming respect for the judiciary and the rule of law, POMR maintained that the legal battle over the NDC was far from concluded and expressed confidence that the movement would prevail through constitutional means.
“Today’s judgment may alter the route, but it cannot alter the destination. The march towards a New Nigeria continues, and that march is irreversible,” the statement added.
The development is expected to generate fresh political and legal debate over the future of the NDC and the evolving alignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.