PDP faction slams court ruling on NDC registration, cites political plot

A faction of Nigeria's Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has voiced strong criticism over a Federal High Court ruling that revoked an earlier order compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party.

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We have read media reports of the order of the Federal High Court, sitting in Lokoja, directing the Independent National Electoral Commission to deregister the National Democratic Party.

The Tanimu Turaki (SAN)-led faction stated that while awaiting the official judgment copy, they are deeply concerned about the ruling's implications. They believe it further restricts Nigeria's democratic space and constitutes an "economic crime" against individuals who invested resources in the NDC.

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While we await the Certified True Copy of the judgment, we express our profound condemnation of the implications of the court order, which further constricts the democratic space in our country.

In a statement, the PDP faction alleged that the ruling aligns with the "playbook of the APC-led Federal Government." They suggested the government is deliberately hindering the emergence of genuine opposition parties to secure an unchallenged re-election for the president in 2027. The faction condemned what it described as the government's "disdain for fair political competition."

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This is particularly disturbing, coming after Nigerians had expended their resources to aspire to various elective offices under the platform of the NDC. This order is not only an asphyxiation of multiparty democracy in Nigeria but also an economic crime against Nigerians who invested in the party.

The PDP faction urged the NDC leadership to legally challenge the court order and rally public support for democratic consolidation. The Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, had initially ordered INEC to register the NDC but later vacated the judgment, citing the Peace Movement Party as a necessary party that was not heard.

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This situation, though activated through the court, fits neatly into the playbook of the APC-led Federal Government, which appears unwilling to allow the survival of a genuine opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections, in order to pave the way for the President’s unchallenged re-election.