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The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has maintained that it remains a legally registered political party despite a Federal High Court ruling in Lokoja setting aside an earlier judgment that compelled the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register it.
In a statement signed by its National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, the party said the court's latest decision did not order its deregistration, insisting that its legal status remains intact.
The NDC recalled that it secured a judgment in December 2025 compelling INEC to register the party after the court upheld its constitutional right to freedom of association. Following the judgment, the party said it commenced full political activities, conducted congresses from the ward to national levels, held its national convention, concluded primaries, and participated in INEC activities, including recent bye-elections in Nasarawa and Enugu states.
According to the party, it has also nominated candidates for the House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, governorship, presidential and vice-presidential elections, and is preparing to submit their names to INEC in line with the commission's timetable.
The party described the application that led to the latest ruling as one filed by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), an association it said is neither a registered political party nor a participant in the ongoing registration exercise.
The NDC argued that the Federal High Court had become functus officio after delivering its final judgment in the matter and questioned the court's jurisdiction to entertain the application or set aside its earlier decision.
It further contended that any party dissatisfied with the December 2025 judgment ought to have appealed the ruling within the time prescribed by law rather than seeking to overturn it through a motion.
The party disclosed that it has directed its legal team to immediately challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal, expressing confidence that the appellate court would overturn the decision.
Reassuring its members, candidates and supporters, the NDC said all nominations already made remain valid and urged them to remain calm as it pursues legal remedies.
The party also accused unnamed individuals of attempting to undermine Nigeria's multi-party democracy through the judiciary, insisting that opposition parties should be allowed to participate freely in the build-up to the 2027 general elections.
