By FRONTLINE REPORTERS

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has set aside the Federal High Court judgment in Lokoja, Kogi State, which had ordered the deregistration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party.

In a split decision, a two-member majority of the three-man panel upheld the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) recognition of the NDC, describing the Federal High Court’s July 26 judgment as perverse.

The appellate court held that the lower court had overstepped its jurisdiction and breached the principle of judicial hierarchy by effectively sitting on appeal over its own earlier judgment delivered on December 10, 2025, which had paved the way for INEC to register the NDC.

In the majority judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Danjuma and Justice Muslim Sule Hassan, the court also rejected the contention concerning the NDC’s party logo, which an association operating under the aegis of the Peace Movement Party (PMP) had claimed belonged to it.

The two justices consequently found merit in the appeal filed by the NDC and allowed it, thereby restoring the party’s registration and recognition by INEC.

However, Justice Okon Abang, the third member of the panel, dissented. He upheld the deregistration of the NDC, holding that there was no sufficient basis to fault the Federal High Court’s decision.

Justice Abang maintained that the lower court had acted in accordance with the principles of justice and fair hearing, particularly after the PMP complained that it had not been joined in the original proceedings despite claiming a legal interest in the dispute.

The Federal High Court in Lokoja, presided over by Justice Isah Dashen, had earlier voided its December 10, 2025 ruling directing INEC to register the NDC.

The reversal followed an application by the PMP, which argued that it had been excluded from the original proceedings despite its alleged interest in the party’s registration and logo.

The High Court agreed with the application, holding that parties with vested interests in the matter ought to have been given an opportunity to participate before an order was made directing INEC to register the NDC.

Justice Dashen consequently ordered that the case be heard afresh, with all relevant parties properly joined.

Dissatisfied with the decision, the NDC appealed to the Court of Appeal. The party had already nominated candidates for the 2027 general elections before the appellate court delivered its latest judgment.

The Court of Appeal’s majority decision therefore represents a significant development for the NDC as preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections.

ADVERTISEMENTS