TDNigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that it will comply with the Federal High Court ruling that voided the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), pending receipt of the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment.
The ruling effectively nullifies the earlier order that compelled INEC to register the party, throwing NDC’s political future into uncertainty.
Background
- On December 10, 2025, a Federal High Court in Lokoja ordered INEC to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party.
- The order was challenged by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which claimed ownership of the logo used by NDC in its registration process.
- On June 26, 2026, Justice Isah Dashen of the Federal High Court nullified the earlier judgment, ruling that it was flawed because not all interested parties were heard.
INEC’s Position
Mohammed Kudu Haruna, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, stated:
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INEC has applied for the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment.
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The commission will act in accordance with the law once the ruling is studied.
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Until then, INEC cannot make further comments.
Haruna emphasized that before the December 2025 ruling, INEC had rejected NDC’s application to be registered as a political party.
Court’s Decision
The court ruled that the earlier order was invalid because it was delivered without hearing all affected parties, particularly PMP.
The judgment directed all parties to return to the status quo before December 2025.
This means:
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NDC’s certificate of registration is withdrawn
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NDC’s inclusion in INEC’s records is voided
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Any appearance of NDC on ballot papers is canceled pending the final determination of the substantive suit.
Implications and Outlook
- Political Landscape: The ruling removes NDC from Nigeria’s list of registered political parties, at least temporarily.
- Legal Process: The substantive suit remains pending before the Federal High Court and will determine the final outcome of NDC’s status.
- Electoral Integrity: INEC’s compliance underscores its commitment to following judicial processes and maintaining transparency in party registration.
With the case set for a fresh hearing, INEC is expected to maintain the pre-December 2025 position until the court delivers a final ruling.
The development highlights ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s party registration process and the importance of resolving disputes over party identity and symbols.
Similar Deregistration Case
Similarly, the Federal High Court in Abuja recently ordered the deregistration of five political parties for failing to meet constitutional requirements for continued recognition.
The affected parties are the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
The ruling was delivered by Justice Peter Lifu following a suit filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators.
The plaintiffs argued that the parties consistently failed to meet the minimum thresholds outlined in Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022, and INEC regulations.
These thresholds require parties to secure at least 25 percent of votes in a state during a presidential election or win at least one elective position at any level of government.
According to the suit, the five parties performed poorly in the 2023 general elections and subsequent by-elections, failing to secure significant victories.
INEC’s Legal Obligations
Justice Lifu upheld the arguments, ruling that INEC has a constitutional obligation to enforce provisions governing party registration and deregistration.
He directed INEC to commence the deregistration process for the five parties in line with constitutional and statutory provisions.
The plaintiffs also sought additional reliefs.
These include:
- Restraining the affected parties from participating in future elections,
- conducting primaries, and/or,
- organizing rallies until they comply with constitutional requirements.
The judgment sparked political debate ahead of the 2027 general elections, especially amid ongoing discussions about the size of Nigeria’s party system and the need for reforms.
Attention now shifts to INEC’s response to the NDC case and whether the party will challenge the ruling at appellate courts.
