The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has faulted Friday’s Federal High Court ruling that set aside the judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the party, insisting that any challenge to the original decision should have been pursued through an appeal within the legally prescribed timeframe.
Describing the process as a “backdoor” attempt to overturn a valid court judgment, the party argued that the applicant, the Peace Movement Party (PMP), failed to take advantage of the opportunity to appeal the December 2025 ruling and cannot now seek to invalidate it through a fresh application before the same court.
In a statement issued by its National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, the NDC maintained that the period allowed by law for challenging the registration judgment had already elapsed, making the latest application incompetent and an abuse of judicial process.
The party further contended that the Federal High Court had become functus officio after delivering its final judgment on the matter and therefore lacked the jurisdiction to revisit issues it had already determined.
“It is too late for anyone to attempt to use the judiciary to derail or narrow Nigeria’s multi-party democratic space,” the statement said.
While acknowledging that the court set aside its earlier judgment, the NDC stressed that the ruling did not order its deregistration and insisted it remains a recognised political party pending the outcome of its appeal.
The party disclosed that it has instructed its legal team to challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal, expressing confidence that the appellate court would overturn the ruling and restore the judgment that compelled INEC to register it.
The NDC also warned against what it described as efforts to weaken opposition politics through procedural legal tactics ahead of the 2027 general elections. It noted that since its registration, it has conducted congresses, conventions and primary elections, participated in bye-elections, and nominated candidates for various elective positions.
Reassuring its members and supporters, the party said all nominations and political activities undertaken under its platform remain valid and affirmed its determination to participate fully in the 2027 elections despite the legal setback.