Court Makes U-TURN on NDC Registration, Directs INEC to Delist Party

The political ambitions of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) have hit a major roadblock as Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja has overturned its previous verdict, which had originally mandated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to certify the NDC as an official political party.

With this latest judicial U-turn, the legal foundation keeping the NDC on INEC’s official roster has been dismantled, stripping the party of its recognized status and plunging its future into legal limbo.

The controversy dates back to earlier this year when the NDC won a favorable judgment in suit FHC/LKJ/CS/49/2025.

That initial ruling forced INEC to register the party, sparking immediate friction within the political landscape.

However, rival political associations refused to back down. Led by the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), challengers took the matter back to court, arguing that the NDC bypassed critical statutory protocols.

According to the plaintiffs, the NDC failed to navigate INEC’s mandatory online application portal and neglected to submit foundational documents, including its official manifesto.

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Reviewing the merits of the challenge, the Federal High Court agreed that its initial directive could no longer stand and subsequently vacated the order.

The NDC is currently unregistered and cannot legally field or sponsor candidates for any upcoming elections.

The party’s official status has been completely wiped out, effectively resetting its progress.

To salvage its political future, the NDC must either launch a fresh registration bid that strictly adheres to INEC guidelines or file a challenge at the Court of Appeal.

For INEC, the ruling is a validation of its procedural standards. The court concurred that the initial mandate was marred by legal and procedural oversights, effectively freeing the electoral umpire from any obligation to recognize the party.

Unless the NDC secures a victory at the appellate court or successfully restarts the grueling registration process from scratch, it remains completely sidelined from Nigeria’s political arena.

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