BREAKING NEWS: We Have Not Been Deregistered – NDC Rejects High Court Ruling, Heads To Appeal Court

Read The Complete Article in One Click: Tap “Read Original” on PHOENIX From The Top..

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has rejected a ruling by a Federal High Court in Lokoja setting aside its earlier judgment that compelled the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the party, insisting that it remains a legally recognized political platform and will challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal.

In a statement issued on Friday, the NDC said it was surprised by the decision of Justice Isah Dashen, who ruled on an application filed by an association identified as the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which the party described as unregistered and unknown to its leadership.

The party recalled that in December 2025, it approached the Federal High Court after INEC allegedly refused to register it as a political party. According to the NDC, the court upheld its constitutional right to freedom of association and ordered INEC to register the party, a directive that was subsequently complied with by the electoral commission.

Since obtaining registration, the party said it has actively participated in the political process, including registering members nationwide, conducting congresses from ward to national levels, holding conventions, and concluding primaries for various elective offices in line with INEC’s timetable.

The NDC noted that it also fielded candidates in the recently concluded bye-elections in Nasarawa and Enugu states and has nominated candidates for the House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, governorship, presidential and vice-presidential elections ahead of the 2027 general polls.

According to the party, the Peace Movement Party based its application on a claim that it sought registration as a political party in 2015 using the victory sign as its symbol but was denied approval.

The NDC argued that PMP is neither a registered political party nor an association currently participating in the ongoing registration exercise, insisting that the court had already delivered a final judgment on the matter and had become “functus officio”.

“The association that filed the complaint is unknown to us. The Peace Movement Party is not a registered political party in Nigeria. They claimed, in a motion, that the court should set aside its earlier judgment on the purported ground that in 2015 they had sought registration as a political party with the victory sign as their symbol and were denied,” the statement read.

The party maintained that there was no order directing its deregistration and reassured its members and candidates that it remains operational.

“We have instructed our team of lawyers to immediately proceed to the Court of Appeal to challenge the jurisdiction and propriety of His Lordship’s order. The NDC has not been deregistered, and we are challenging today’s order as soon as possible,” it stated.

The party further condemned what it described as attempts to narrow Nigeria’s democratic space and suppress opposition voices, stressing that citizens deserve access to diverse political platforms and candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.