The Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, has set aside its earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party.
Delivering the ruling on Friday, June 26, Justice Isah Dashen held that the earlier judgment could not stand because all parties with an interest in the matter were not given the opportunity to be heard before the decision was made.
The court upheld an application filed by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), ruling that it was a necessary party to the suit and should have been joined before the case was determined.
Justice Dashen ruled that the previous judgment was constitutionally flawed, stressing that failure to hear all interested parties violated the principles of fair hearing and rendered the proceedings null and void.
He also noted that material facts were allegedly withheld from the court during the earlier proceedings, providing further justification for vacating the judgment.
The court consequently ordered that the status quo be restored to what it was before the judgment of December 10, 2025, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
As a result, the case will commence afresh, with INEC, the Peace Movement Party, and the Nigeria Democratic Congress all joined as parties.
Speaking to journalists after the ruling, counsel to the applicant, Chikezie Ekeocha, explained that the PMP approached the court after discovering that the NDC’s registration was based on a logo the PMP had previously submitted to INEC.
According to him, the court agreed that the applicant’s rights could be affected and therefore set aside the earlier judgment.
“The court has ordered all parties to return to the position they occupied before the judgment of December 10, 2025, and directed the claimants to join all necessary parties so that the issues in dispute can be effectively and completely determined,” Ekeocha said.
He added that the ruling effectively nullifies every action taken by INEC pursuant to the now-vacated judgment.
“The recognition of the NDC, the issuance of its certificate of registration, its inclusion in INEC’s records, and any appearance on ballot papers arising from that judgment must be withdrawn pending the final determination of the substantive suit,” he stated.
Ekeocha, however, clarified that the substantive case has not yet been decided on its merits and will now proceed to a fresh hearing with all relevant parties participating before the court reaches a final decision.
The judgment means that the NDC’s legal status remains unresolved until the case is finally determined.
