A Federal High Court in Lokoja has set aside its previous judgment that compelled the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party.
Key points
- Justice Isah Dashen ruled the initial December 2025 judgment was constitutionally defective because it failed to hear all necessary parties.
- The court ordered the substantive suit to begin afresh, joining the Peace Movement Party (PMP), INEC, and the NDC as parties.
- Opposition figures, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and aides to Atiku Abubakar, criticized the ruling as an attempt to shrink the democratic space.
- The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) condemned the decision as a setback for multiparty democracy and an economic crime against those who invested in the NDC.
Why it matters
The court's decision has heightened concerns among opposition parties regarding the fairness of the political environment ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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