Kogi High Court Dismisses Viral Claims of NDC Deregistration, Says No Such Order Was Issued

By George Omagbemi Sylvester

The Kogi State High Court has debunked reports circulating on social media alleging that it ordered the deregistration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), describing the claims as false, misleading and capable of undermining public confidence in the judiciary.

In an official statement issued by the court’s Chief Information Officer, Saqeeb Saeed, the judiciary clarified that it neither heard nor delivered any judgment directing the deregistration of the NDC or any other political party.

The court stressed that the reports, accompanied by photographs of the Chief Judge of Kogi State, Justice Josiah Majebi, and former Governor Yahaya Bello, created a false impression that such a ruling had emanated from the state High Court.

The court explained that although it does not ordinarily respond to online publications, it considered it necessary to correct the misinformation because of its potential to mislead the public and tarnish the image of the judiciary. It warned that the deliberate dissemination of false reports capable of damaging the reputation of judges and the courts would no longer be tolerated.

The clarification follows weeks of legal controversy surrounding the NDC’s registration.

In June, a Federal High Court in Lokoja set aside its earlier judgment that had compelled the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the party, ruling that all interested parties must be heard before a final decision is reached.

That ruling did not amount to a deregistration order, and the substantive case remains pending before the court.

The Kogi State High Court urged journalists, content creators and members of the public to verify information before publication, emphasizing that accurate reporting is essential to preserving the integrity of the justice system and preventing the spread of misinformation.