The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has overturned a Federal High Court judgment in Lokoja that had nullified the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party.
The appellate court, in a split 2–1 decision, upheld the NDC’s appeal against the ruling delivered by Justice Isah Dashen of the Federal High Court, Lokoja. The majority judgment was delivered by Justice Mohammed Danjuma, with Justice Muslim Sule Hassan concurring, while Justice Okon Abang dissented.
The dispute stemmed from an earlier Federal High Court judgment of December 10, 2025, which had directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise and register the NDC. The decision was later challenged after the Peace Movement Party (PMP) claimed an interest in the party’s logo and argued that it ought to have been included in the original proceedings.
Justice Dashen subsequently set aside the earlier judgment, prompting the NDC to appeal the decision.
In its latest ruling, the Court of Appeal held that the Lokoja court had improperly revisited its earlier decision, effectively exercising appellate powers over its own judgment.
The appellate court also rejected the argument surrounding the NDC’s logo.
Reacting to the judgment, NDC National Leader, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, said the ruling had reaffirmed the party’s status as a registered political organisation.
Dickson welcomed the decision and said the party would proceed with its political activities and preparations for the 2027 general elections.
He also commended the appellate judges involved in the majority decision, describing the judgment as significant to the country’s multiparty democratic system.
The NDC had faced uncertainty over its participation in the 2027 elections following the Lokoja ruling. The latest appellate decision, however, reverses that ruling and leaves the party’s registration intact, subject to any further legal proceedings.