Court of Appeal reverses Lokoja judgment, upholds NDC registration

The Court of Appeal, which sat in Abuja, has nullified a decision of the Federal High Court, which sat in Lokoja, Kogi State, regarding the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party.

The appellate court found that the Federal High Court did not have the jurisdiction to nullify its earlier decision on the basis of an application by the Peace Movement Party (PMP).

The ruling effectively overturned the Lokoja court’s decision which had earlier set aside its December 2025 judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the NDC.

The dispute followed an application by the PMP, which claimed that it owned the logo used by the NDC in securing its registration.

The PMP had argued that the December 10, 2025 judgment affected its rights because it was not joined as a party to the original suit.

Justice Isah Dashen had, in June 2026, ruled in favour of the PMP and set aside the earlier judgment, holding that the rights of the party had been adversely affected.

The NDC subsequently appealed the decision, which had also directed INEC not to recognise the party pending the resolution of the legal issues surrounding its registration.

The Court of Appeal has now overruled the Lokoja court’s decision and upheld the NDC’s registration.

The development was confirmed on Friday by the NDC National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director.

“Appeal Court upholds NDC’s registration, overrules Justice Dashen of Lokoja High Court,” Director wrote in a post on X.

The appellate court’s decision represents a significant development in the legal dispute surrounding the NDC’s registration and its recognition by INEC ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The party had challenged the Lokoja ruling, arguing that the lower court could not reverse its earlier judgment on the basis of the PMP’s application.

With the latest ruling, the NDC says its registration remains valid, subject to any further legal steps that may arise from the parties involved.