The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has rejected Friday’s ruling of the Federal High Court in Lokoja setting aside its earlier registration, insisting that the party remains legally recognised and will immediately challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, the National Chairman of the party, Distinguished Senator Cleopas Moses Zuwoghe described the ruling as legally unsustainable and assured party members, supporters and candidates that the NDC had not been deregistered.
“The Peace Movement Party (PMP) is not a registered political party in Nigeria. They claimed in a motion (not even a substantive suit or appeal), that the court should set aside it’s earlier judgement on the purported ground that, in 2015, they had sought registration as political party with the victory sign as their symbol and were denied.
“The court having delivered a final judgement in our suite against INEC, had become functus officio. The court had also dealt with all related issues concerning associations claiming they wanted to use the same symbol and colours. The court, in it’s judgement, overruled INEC when those issues were raised, and there is no appeal against that judgement” he said.
According to the chairman, the Federal High Court had, in December 2025, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the NDC after upholding its constitutional right to freedom of association.
It maintained that the Peace Movement Party ought to have appealed the original judgment if it was dissatisfied, arguing that attempting to overturn it through a motion after the appeal window had closed amounted to an abuse of court process.
“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,” he said.
He went further to report that the party has conducted ward, local government, state and national congresses, held its national convention, conducted primaries in line with the electoral timetable, participated in INEC activities and fielded candidates in recent by-elections.
He added that candidates had already been nominated for the House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, governorship, presidential and vice-presidential elections and were in the process of being formally submitted to INEC.
The NDC argued that the latest ruling merely set aside the court’s earlier judgment and did not expressly order the deregistration of the party.
“There was no order directing our deregistration. However, we are dissatisfied with the decision that has been made, and we have instructed our team of lawyers to immediately proceed to the Court of Appeal to challenge the jurisdiction and propriety of His Lordship’s order”.
Responding to questions from journalists, the party’s National Secretary, Barr. Ikenna Morgan Enekweizu declined to disclose the lead counsel handling the appeal but said that court processes would be filed by Monday.
The legal representatives described the ruling as lacking legal precedent and expressed confidence that the appellate courts would overturn it.
“We have a strong conviction that the judiciary is still the last hope of the common man in Nigeria,” the legal adviser said. “The court that delivered the ruling is not the highest court in the land. We will pursue this matter to its ultimate conclusion.”
The party also dismissed suggestions that the ruling would affect its participation in the 2027 general elections, insisting that all its candidates would remain on the ballot.
The chairman assured supporters that preparations for the elections would continue uninterrupted, disclosing that immediately after the press conference he would proceed to INEC to obtain the party’s candidate-upload code.
He further alleged that the court action formed part of wider attempts to shrink Nigeria’s democratic space and weaken opposition parties, while urging Nigerians to continue supporting the NDC’s activities.
“We are firm, we are strong. Democracy must stand. There is no amount of intimidation that will stop us,” he said.
The NDC called on its members and candidates nationwide to remain calm while the legal challenge proceeds, expressing confidence that the Court of Appeal would overturn the ruling and affirm the party’s legal status.
