A Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja has set aside its earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party, ordering that the case be heard afresh with all relevant parties joined.
Delivering the ruling on Friday, Justice Isah Dashen held that the earlier judgment was constitutionally defective because it was delivered without hearing from all interested parties.
The judge upheld an application filed by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), ruling that the party was a necessary party to the suit and that its exclusion rendered the earlier proceedings null and void.
Justice Dashen further ordered that the status quo be restored to what it was before the court’s December 10, 2025 judgment, pending the determination of the substantive suit.
He also observed that certain material facts had been suppressed during the earlier proceedings, warranting the setting aside of the judgment.
Consequently, the court directed that the substantive suit should commence afresh, with INEC, the Peace Movement Party and the Nigeria Democratic Congress joined as parties.
Counsel to the applicant, Chikezie Ekeocha, said the PMP approached the court after discovering that the NDC’s registration was based on a logo the party had earlier submitted to INEC before the commencement of the suit.
According to him, the court agreed that the applicant’s rights had been adversely affected and consequently vacated the earlier judgment.
“The court has ordered all parties to return to the position they occupied before the judgment of December 10, 2025, and directed the claimants to join all necessary parties to ensure the issues in dispute are effectually and completely determined,” Ekeocha said.
He explained that the ruling effectively reverses all actions taken by INEC pursuant to the now-vacated judgment.
“The recognition of the NDC, the issuance of its certificate of registration, its inclusion in INEC’s records and any appearance on ballot papers arising from that judgment must be withdrawn pending the final determination of the substantive suit,” he added.
Ekeocha, however, clarified that the substantive case remains pending before the court.
“The matter has not been concluded. The court merely set aside its previous judgment and directed that the party whose interests were affected be joined so that all sides can be heard before a fresh decision is reached,” he said.
He also dismissed suggestions that the court merely ordered parties to maintain the status quo, insisting that the ruling specifically restored all parties to the position they occupied before the December 10, 2025 judgment.
