Court nullify NDC registration - wetin e mean for Peter Obi party

One Federal High Court for Lokoja, Kogi State, north-central Nigeria, on Friday set aside im earlier judgment wey bin direct di Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) to register di Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as political party.

Justice Isah Dashen, wey be di presiding judge hold say all relevant parties gatz dey heard bifor any substantive decision fit happun ontop di mata.

Di court uphold di application filed by di Peace Movement Party (PMP), wey rule say di party na necessary party to di suit.

According to di judge, di earlier judgment dey constitutionally defective as e dey delivered witout hearing from all interested parties.

E declare say such omission render di entire process null and void.

Justice Dashen further rule say di status quo gatz dey restored to wetin e be bifor December 2025 judgment, pending di determination of di substantive suit.

E also observe say certain material facts bin dey suppressed for di earlier proceedings, wey justify di decision to set aside di judgment.

Wetin di ruling mean for NDC

Di ruling mean say di Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) don lose di legal basis for registration as political party for now.

Di court order say make di substantive suit begin afresh, wit Inec, di PMP and di NDC as parties to di case.

Counsel to di applicant, Chikezie Ekeocha, tell journalists say di PMP bin approach di court afta dem discova say di NDC registration na based on one logo dem don previously submit to Inec bifor di commencement of di suit.

According to Ekeocha, di court agree say di applicant rights don dey affected and vacate di earlier judgment.

"Di court don order all parties to return to di position wey dem bin occupied bifor di judgment of December 10, 2025, and direct di claimants to join all necessary parties to ensure di issues in dispute dey effectually and completely determined," e tok.

E explain say di implication of di ruling be say evri action wey Inec bin take to comply wit di now-vacated judgment stand reversed.

"Di recognition of di NDC, di issuance of im certificate of registration, im inclusion for Inec records, and any appearance on ballot papers wey arise from dat judgment gatz dey withdrawn pending di final determination of di substantive suit," Ekeocha tok.

E, however, clarify say di substantive case remain bifor di court and neva dey decided.

"Di mata neva dey concluded. Di court merely set aside im previous judgment and direct say di party wey im interests bin dey affected be joined so all sides fit dey heard bifor fresh decision dey reached."

Ekeocha also dismiss suggestions say di court merely order parties to maintain di status quo, and insist say di ruling specifically direct restoration of di position wey bin exist bifor di December 10, 2025 judgment.

Di ruling effectively return di dispute ova di registration of di NDC to di Federal High Court for fresh hearing, wit all relevant parties expected to participate bifor court make new determination.