The Independent National Electoral Commission is preparing to remove the Nigeria Democratic Congress from its official list of political parties. This development follows a Federal High Court ruling that overturned a previous order requiring the electoral body to register the group.
Previously, INEC denied the NDC’s application for registration. However, a court decision on December 10, 2025, forced the commission to recognize the party. On Friday, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, an INEC National Commissioner, stated that the commission is awaiting the Certified True Copy of the latest judgment to proceed with the deregistration process. He noted that the commission would revert to its initial stance of rejecting the NDC’s intent to register.
Justice Isah Dashen of the Federal High Court in Lokoja issued the new ruling, explaining that the December 2025 decision failed to account for the Peace Movement Party. The PMP argued that the NDC used their logo without permission. Consequently, the court ordered that all actions taken based on the previous judgment, including the issuance of registration certificates and inclusion on ballot papers, must be retracted.
Legal counsel for the PMP, C. S. Ekeocha, confirmed that the court instructed all parties to revert to their pre-December status. The substantive case remains unresolved and will now proceed to a fresh hearing at the Federal High Court where all necessary parties will be included.
