NDC Pushes back, Accuses Justice Dashen of ‘Abuse of Coordinate Jurisdiction’

The Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, has pushed back against Friday’s Federal High Court judgment that set aside the order compelling its registration, accusing Justice Isah Dashen of overstepping by “sitting in appeal” over his own court’s decision.

In a statement released, the NDC said the ruling was “orchestrated by those working hard to stifle the opposition in Nigeria” and insisted that the court gave no explicit order for its deregistration.

“Whereas the court vacated its order of December last year which gave room for its registration, it did not give explicit order that it be deregistered,” the party said.

Justice Dashen had on Friday set aside the Federal High Court Lokoja’s December 10, 2025, judgment that ordered INEC to register the NDC. The judge held that the Peace Movement Party, which claims ownership of the disputed logo, was not joined in the original suit. He directed parties to return to the status quo before the December judgment and ordered the case to start afresh.

The NDC condemned what it called efforts “to shrink the democratic space and stifle opposition voices,” arguing that Nigerians deserve “a full range of opinions, ideas, and alternatives.”

The party questioned the locus standi of the PMP, describing it as “an unregistered association” and “unknown to us.” 

“The public knows that by December 2025, the Nigeria Democratic Congress as an association complained of INEC’s refusal to register us as a political party, whereupon we proceeded to the Federal High Court. The Federal High Court upheld our constitutional right to freedom of association... and compelled INEC to register us, which INEC did,” the statement read.

NDC said it has since “started political activities, embarked on the registration of members, held congresses from ward to national levels, held conventions, and concluded primaries to all offices following INEC’s timetable.” It added that it fielded candidates in the recent bye elections in Nasarawa and Enugu states and is in the process of submitting nominations for the 2027 polls.

On the legal process, the party argued that the court was _functus officio_ after delivering final judgment in its suit against INEC and had already overruled INEC on issues of conflicting symbols. “There is no appeal against that judgment,” it said.

“Therefore, we are surprised that, on an application by an association claiming that it wanted to register as a political party with the victory sign in 2015... His Lordship came to the conclusion that they have locus standi, and furthermore, that he has jurisdiction to do what he did.”

The party said it has instructed its lawyers to “immediately proceed to the Court of Appeal to challenge the jurisdiction and propriety of His Lordship’s order.”

“We assure the general public, and particularly our candidates at all levels, that our party is on course. The NDC has not been deregistered, and we are challenging today’s order at the Court of Appeal as soon as possible. We have no doubt that justice will be done,” the statement concluded.

Reactions to the judgment have speculated that NDC presidential candidate Mr. Peter Obi is the target. The 2027 general election process is already underway, with INEC’s timetable in effect.