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A Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja has vacated its earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party.
The latest ruling overturns the legal basis upon which the NDC was listed by INEC, leaving the party without official recognition and unable to operate as a registered political party for the time being.
The NDC had earlier secured a judgment in Suit No. FHC/LKJ/CS/49/2025, which compelled INEC to register it, prompting the electoral commission to include the party on its list of recognised political parties.
However, the registration was challenged by other political associations, including the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), which argued that the NDC failed to comply with the statutory requirements for registration. The challengers maintained that the party neither completed its application through INEC's designated portal nor submitted key documents such as its manifesto and other mandatory materials.
After reviewing the fresh application, the Lokoja court set aside its previous judgment, holding that the order directing INEC to register the NDC should no longer stand.
The decision means the NDC cannot sponsor or field candidates in any election until it secures formal registration from INEC.
The ruling also returns the party to the beginning of the registration process. To regain recognition, the NDC must either satisfy all registration requirements and submit a fresh application to INEC or challenge the judgment at the Court of Appeal.
For INEC, the judgment removes any legal obligation to register the party. The court agreed that there were legal and procedural issues surrounding the earlier order, including questions about compliance with statutory conditions.
The latest decision marks another twist in the legal battle over the NDC's registration and could affect the party's political ambitions ahead of future elections.
