The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it will review the judgment of the Federal High Court in Lokoja that nullified its earlier directive to register the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party.
INEC made this known in a statement issued on Saturday by the Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to its Chairman, Adedayo Oketola.
According to the commission, although it is aware of media reports on the judgment delivered by the Federal High Court on June 26, it will not comment on the ruling until it receives and examines the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is aware of reports circulating in the media regarding the judgment delivered on Friday, June 26, 2026, by the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, which set aside an earlier order concerning the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress.
“However, as of this moment, the Commission has not yet received the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the court’s order,” the statement read.
INEC explained that its legal department would review the judgment once the CTC is received and advise the commission on the appropriate legal and administrative steps to take.
“Once the Commission’s legal department receives and thoroughly studies the CTC of the judgment, INEC will take an informed, lawful decision in line with the court’s directives.
“Until then, we cannot comment on the specifics of the ruling, and the public is urged to await the Commission’s formal position on the matter,” Oketola stated.
Justice Isah Dashen of the Federal High Court in Lokoja had on Friday set aside the court’s December 10, 2025 judgment that directed INEC to register the NDC as a political party.
The judge held that the rights of the Peace Movement Party were affected by the earlier judgment because it was not joined in the suit, despite claiming ownership of the logo that formed part of the basis for the registration order.
Consequently, the court restored all parties to the positions they occupied before the December 2025 judgment and ordered that the substantive suit be heard afresh with all necessary parties joined in the proceedings.
The National Democratic Congress has, however, rejected the ruling and announced its intention to challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal.
