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Court Judgment Orders Deregistration of Nigeria Democratic Congress
🇳🇬 Nigeria /Crime & Justice

Court Judgment Orders Deregistration of Nigeria Democratic Congress

From Vanguard · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • A certified true copy of a court judgment has emerged, ordering the deregistration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
  • The Federal High Court in Lokoja nullified a previous ruling that compelled the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the NDC.
  • The deregistration is due to the prior judgment affecting the rights of the Peace Movement Party, which was not a party to the original lawsuit.

A certified true copy of a Federal High Court judgment has surfaced, mandating the deregistration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). The ruling, issued by Justice Isa H. Dashen at the Lokoja Judicial Division, effectively overturns a December 10, 2025, judgment that had previously instructed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the party.

The court found the earlier judgment to be null and void because it impacted the legal rights of the Peace Movement Party (PMP). The PMP claims ownership of the logo used by the NDC for its registration but was not included as a party in the initial lawsuit. Consequently, INEC is now expected to remove the NDC from its official list of recognized political parties.

This is a ruling on a Motion on Notice dated 4th May, 2026 and filed on 5th May, 2026 by the Applicant/Affected Party, Barrister Emmanuel Uzowuru, the Protem National Legal Adviser of the Peace Movement Party (PMP).

— Certified True Copy of Court RulingIdentifying the applicant and the nature of the motion.

This development follows a previous judgment by the Federal High Court in Lokoja on Friday, which had already directed INEC not to recognize the NDC pending the resolution of all related legal issues. The court had previously set aside its December 2025 ruling that compelled INEC to register the NDC, after an application was filed by the Peace Movement Party.

The certified true copy details a Motion on Notice dated May 4, 2026, filed by Barrister Emmanuel Uzowuru, the Protem National Legal Adviser of the PMP. The application sought an order to extend the time for the PMP to apply to set aside the December 10, 2025, judgment in Suit No. FHC/LKI/CS/49/2025. The grounds for the application were supported by a 41-paragraph affidavit and exhibits, along with a written address by the applicant's counsel.

An Order of this Honourable Court setting aside the judgment of this Court delivered on the 10th day of December, 2025, in Suit No. FHC/LKI/CS/49/2025 between Barr. Takori Mohammed Sani (Protem National Secretary, NDC) & 3 Ors. v. Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

— Certified True Copy of Court RulingStating the relief sought: setting aside the previous judgment.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Vanguard in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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