Why court set aside NDC registration judgment

The Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja has explained why it set aside its earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party, ruling that the earlier decision was reached without hearing a party whose legal rights were directly affected.

Justice Isah Dashen, who delivered the ruling on Friday, held that the court’s judgment of December 10, 2025, adversely affected the rights of the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which claimed ownership of the logo relied upon in obtaining the earlier judgment but was not joined as a party in the suit.

The court ruled that the failure to include the Peace Movement Party in the proceedings denied it the opportunity to defend its interest, making it necessary to vacate the earlier judgment in the interest of fair hearing.

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

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According to him, the court agreed that the applicant’s rights had been affected and consequently nullified its previous 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,” Ekeocha 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.

According to him, the recognition of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, the issuance of its certificate of registration, its inclusion in INEC’s official records and any appearance on ballot papers arising from the earlier judgment must be withdrawn pending the final determination of the substantive suit.

Ekeocha, however, clarified that the substantive case has not been concluded, stressing that the court merely reopened the matter to allow all affected parties to participate before a fresh decision is taken.

“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,” he said.

He also dismissed suggestions that the court merely ordered parties to maintain the status quo, insisting that the ruling specifically restored the position that existed before the December 10, 2025 judgment.

The latest decision effectively returns the dispute over the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress to the Federal High Court for a fresh hearing, where all relevant parties are expected to participate before the court determines whether the party should be registered.

The ruling represents a significant legal twist in the NDC registration process, underscoring the importance of fair hearing and the inclusion of all parties whose interests may be affected by judicial proceedings.