A Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State, has set aside an earlier judgment that directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party.
The ruling was delivered on Friday by Justice Isah Dashen, effectively nullifying the previous decision that had ordered the electoral umpire to grant the NDC official recognition.
News of the development was made public through a post on X by Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The latest judgment comes amid growing legal and political uncertainty surrounding the status of several opposition political parties in Nigeria.
The development follows recent court decisions affecting the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the Accord Party and other political associations.
TrackNews reports that the Federal High Court in Abuja recently ordered INEC to deregister the ADC, the Accord Party and three other political associations following a suit filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators.
The plaintiffs argued that the affected parties failed to meet the constitutional requirements for continued registration. Under the provisions of the Electoral Act and the Constitution, political parties are expected to secure at least 25 per cent of votes in at least one state during a presidential election or win at least one elective seat at the federal, state or local government level to retain their registration.
The Abuja court held that the affected parties failed to meet these constitutional thresholds during the 2023 general elections and subsequent by-elections, making them liable for deregistration.
Friday’s ruling in Lokoja adds another legal twist to the evolving political landscape, with potential implications for the registration and continued existence of emerging and existing political parties ahead of future elections.
