The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has secured a major legal breakthrough following a Court of Appeal ruling that overturned the judgment of Justice Isah Dashen of the Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, concerning the party’s registration
The decision comes at a critical stage in Nigeria’s preparations for the 2027 general elections, with political parties organizing their structures, preparing candidates and positioning themselves for the forthcoming electoral contest.
The legal battle over the NDC’s registration had generated uncertainty regarding the party’s standing and its ability to operate within the electoral framework. The appellate ruling now provides a significant development in the party’s effort to maintain its registration.
Background to the Legal Dispute
The dispute can be traced to a December 10, 2025 judgment of the Federal High Court in Lokoja, which directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the NDC as a political party.
The registration subsequently became the subject of a legal challenge by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which argued that its interests in the party symbol had been affected without its participation in the original proceedings.
Justice Dashen later set aside the earlier judgment, citing concerns over the involvement of necessary parties and the legal circumstances surrounding the registration order. The NDC challenged the decision before the Court of Appeal.
Majority and Dissenting Judgments
The Court of Appeal’s ruling was delivered in a 2–1 split decision. Justices Mohammed Danjuma and Muslim Sule Hassan formed the majority, while Justice Okon Abang dissented.
The majority held that the Federal High Court had acted improperly by effectively revisiting its own final judgment. The ruling also addressed the PMP’s claims concerning the NDC’s logo and its alleged status as a necessary party to the original proceedings.
In his dissenting judgment, Justice Abang disagreed with the majority’s position. Reports of the judgment indicate that he raised questions concerning the time within which the NDC instituted its original action, the jurisdiction of the trial court and the PMP’s claimed interest in the logo. He also reportedly awarded ₦10 million in costs against the appellant.
The existence of a dissenting opinion highlights the legal disagreements that accompanied the case, even though the majority decision determines the appellate court’s outcome.
Implications for the NDC’s 2027 Preparations
The judgment arrives as the NDC prepares for the 2027 elections. The party has been involved in candidate selection and organizational activities, and the legal dispute had created uncertainty surrounding the status of its registration.
The appellate decision overturning the Lokoja ruling is therefore relevant to the party’s continuing electoral preparations. However, the precise legal implications for its candidates, party symbol and any possible further proceedings should be determined by the operative court orders and official electoral record.
Conclusion
The Court of Appeal’s majority ruling has overturned the Federal High Court judgment that set aside the NDC’s registration. The development marks a new stage in the legal proceedings and provides the basis for the NDC to continue addressing its electoral preparations within the applicable legal framework.
Journalistic note: The report is based on published accounts of the September 18, 2026 appellate judgment. The full certified judgment should be consulted for the authoritative wording of the court’s orders and any outstanding legal issues.
