The Court of Appeal in Abuja has overturned a Federal High Court judgment in Lokoja, Kogi State, which ordered the deregistration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party.
In a split 2-1 decision, a three-member panel of the appellate court upheld the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) recognition of the NDC, describing the lower court’s July 26 judgment as perverse.
The majority held that the Federal High Court had overstepped its jurisdiction and breached the principle of judicial hierarchy by effectively sitting on appeal over its own earlier judgment of December 10, 2025, which had affirmed INEC’s registration of the NDC.
In the lead judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Danjuma and supported by Justice Muslim Sule Hassan, the Court of Appeal also rejected a dispute over the NDC’s logo, which an association operating under the name Peace Movement Party (PMP) claimed belonged to it.
The two justices held that the NDC’s appeal had merit and accordingly allowed it.
However, Justice Okon Abang, the third member of the panel, dissented, upholding the Federal High Court’s decision to deregister the party.
Justice Abang held that there was no basis to fault the lower court, which he said had acted in accordance with the principles of justice and fair hearing.
The dispute arose after the Federal High Court in Lokoja, presided over by Justice Isah Dashen, reversed its earlier judgment directing INEC to register the NDC.
The reversal followed an application by the PMP, which argued that it had not been joined as a party to the original suit despite having a legal interest in the matter.
The High Court agreed, holding that all parties with a vested interest in the case should have been given an opportunity to participate before the order directing INEC to register the NDC was made.
Justice Dashen consequently ordered a fresh hearing of the case, with all relevant parties properly joined.
Dissatisfied with the ruling, the NDC appealed to the Court of Appeal. The party had already nominated candidates for the 2027 general elections.
The appellate court’s majority decision has now restored INEC’s recognition of the NDC, subject to any further legal challenge.
