The Ondo State chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has criticised the recent Federal High Court ruling in Lokoja that nullified an earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the party, describing the decision as an attempt to narrow Nigeria’s democratic space.
The party argued that the court lacked the authority to revisit a final judgment that was neither appealed nor challenged within the legally prescribed period.
NDC also questioned the legal standing of the Peace Movement Party (PMP), describing it as an unregistered association that should not have been allowed to bring the application that resulted in the ruling.
Justice Isah Dashen had, on Friday, set aside the December 2025 judgment that affirmed the party’s constitutional right to freedom of association and ordered INEC to register it.
The decision followed an application by PMP, which claimed ownership of the logo adopted by the NDC and argued that it ought to have been joined in the original suit.
In a statement issued by the party’s Ondo State Chairman, Kennedy Peretei, the NDC maintained that the trial court had become *functus officio* after delivering its final judgment in December 2025, having exhausted its jurisdiction over the matter.
Peretei insisted that the earlier judgment had conclusively resolved all disputes concerning the party’s name, logo and colours, noting that no appeal was filed within the statutory timeframe.
He added that since its registration, the NDC has continued to operate in line with the Electoral Act 2026 and INEC regulations, registering members across the country, conducting ward, local government and state congresses, and successfully holding its national convention.
According to the statement, the party has also conducted primary elections, participated in INEC activities, including recent bye-elections in Nasarawa and Enugu states, and nominated candidates for all elective positions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party assured its members, supporters and candidates that it remains fully operational and that all nominations already made remain valid pending the outcome of its appeal.
While expressing confidence that justice would prevail, the NDC accused some interests of using the courts to frustrate legitimate political alternatives and weaken democratic participation.
It maintained that any party dissatisfied with the original judgment should have pursued an appeal within the stipulated period instead of seeking to overturn a final decision through a fresh application.
The party thanked Nigerians for their support and reaffirmed its commitment to constitutional democracy, the rule of law and the promotion of credible political alternatives ahead of the 2027 elections.
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