By Opeyemi Adelakun
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has rejected a Federal High Court ruling that set aside an earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the party, insisting it remains a legally recognised political platform.
In a statement issued by its National Chairman, Moses Cleopas, the party announced that it had instructed its legal team to challenge the latest ruling at the Court of Appeal.
Cleopas said the application that led to the judgment was filed by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which he described as an unregistered association with no legal standing in the matter.
He recalled that the Federal High Court had, in December 2025, ruled in favour of the NDC, affirming its constitutional right to freedom of association and directing INEC to register it as a political party.
According to him, following that judgment, the party conducted membership registration, ward, local government and state congresses, held its national convention and completed primary elections in line with the electoral timetable.
The NDC also said it participated in recent bye-elections in Nasarawa and Enugu states and has nominated candidates for elective positions ahead of the 2027 general election.
The party maintained that the latest court decision did not order its deregistration.
“There was no order directing our deregistration. The NDC remains a political party, and we have already begun the process of challenging the ruling at the Court of Appeal,” the statement said.
It added that all candidates nominated on its platform remain validly sponsored pending the outcome of the appeal.
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