The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has rejected a recent ruling by the Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, which set aside an earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the party.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, the party's National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas, said the NDC remains a legally recognized political party and has already instructed its legal team to challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal.
Cleopas argued that the latest judgment did not order the party's deregistration or invalidate the nomination of its candidates for the 2027 general elections. He urged party members and supporters across the country to remain calm while the legal process continues.
According to him, the application that led to the latest court decision was filed by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which he described as an unregistered association that was not involved in the original case. He maintained that the trial court lacked the authority to revisit a matter after delivering a final judgment.
The NDC chairman recalled that the party approached the Federal High Court in December 2025 after INEC declined to register it. The court subsequently ruled in its favor, affirming its constitutional right to freedom of association and directing the electoral body to grant it registration.
Since receiving that judgment, Cleopas said the party has carried out nationwide membership registration, conducted congresses at all levels, held its national convention, and completed primary elections for various political offices. He added that the party had participated in recent INEC activities, including by-elections in Nasarawa and Enugu states.
The party also confirmed that it has nominated candidates for the 2027 general elections, including presidential candidate Peter Obi and vice-presidential candidate Rabiu Kwankwaso. Cleopas said the candidates have successfully emerged through the party's primary elections and that their names are being processed for submission to INEC in line with the electoral timetable.
He insisted that the court's latest ruling does not affect the party's legal status and vowed that the NDC would use every available legal avenue to defend its registration and participation in the 2027 elections.
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