By Ikechukwu Nnochiri Abuja
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has set aside the Federal High Court’s judgment in Lokoja, Kogi State, which ordered the deregistration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party
In a split decision of two to one, a three-member panel of the appellate court validated the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) recognition of the NDC, declaring perverse the verdict the high court delivered on July 26
It held that the lower court engaged in an abuse of power and of the judicial hierarchy when it sat on appeal over its own previous judgment, delivered on December 10, 2025, which had okayed the registration of the NDC by INEC
In the majority decision by Justice Mohammed Danjuma and Justice Muslim Sule Hassan, the appellate court also dismissed the contention over the NDC’s party logo, which an association under the aegis of the Peace Movement Party (PMP) claimed belonged to it
The two justices held that there was merit in the appeal that the NDC lodged before the court and accordingly allowed it
However, another member of the panel, Justice Okon Abang, gave a dissenting verdict and upheld the deregistration of the NDC as a political party
Justice Abang said he found no reason to fault the high court, which, he held, acted in line with the tenets of justice and fair hearing
It will be recalled that the court in Lokoja, in a ruling delivered by Justice Isah Dashen, had voided its earlier ruling that ordered INEC to register the NDC
The reversal of the order followed an application brought before the court by the PMP, which insisted that it was not joined in the original proceedings despite having a legal interest in the matter
The high court agreed with the applicant, stressing that all parties with vested interests ought to have been given the opportunity to participate in the proceedings before it issued the order to INEC
Consequently, Justice Dashen ordered a fresh hearing of the case with all the relevant parties properly joined
Dissatisfied with the decision, the NDC, which had since nominated candidates for the 2027 general elections, took the matter to the Court of Appeal, where it secured victory on Friday
Reacting to the judgment, a former governor of Bayelsa State and chieftain of the NDC, Senator Seriake Dickson, hailed the appellate court’s decision as a victory for democracy
He said, “We want to use this opportunity once again to commend the Nigerian judiciary, and in particular, Hon Justice Danjuma and Hon. Justice Hassan, for upholding the integrity of the Nigerian judiciary and, by their decisions, expanding the sphere of multiparty democratic participation in Nigeria.
“We have said repeatedly that the NDC was set up to expand the frontier of multiparty democracy in Nigeria Justice Dashen’s judgment a few months ago was an unexpected assault on our constitutional right to participate and an attempt to narrow the democratic space.
“Happily, today, by the decision of the Court of Appeal, the Nigerian democratic space has been protected, and the NDC’s right to participate in all political activities as a registered political party has been upheld
“I congratulate all members and candidates of our great party, the NDC, and thank Nigerians for their prayers and support
“When the unexpected judgment of the Lokoja Federal High Court was delivered, we were bombarded with several calls for sympathy, support and prayers Today, our collective prayers have been answered.
“The NDC continues to exist Our registration remains valid and subsisting, and we and all our candidates will participate in all elections in 2027 and beyond, by the grace of God.
“Everyone should now focus on the campaigns, prepare for the elections, and gear up to face the APC and defeat them at the polls
“Resorting to arm-twisting, inducing, or intimidating the judiciary will not work We remain confident in the strength of our message, the commitment of our members, the viability of our candidates, and the support of Nigerians.
“With this conviction, we look forward to the forthcoming elections and are confident that the NDC will emerge victorious at the polls, by the grace of God
“The fight for Nigeria’s multiparty democracy continues, and by the grace of God we will emerge victorious,” he added