A Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State, has set aside its earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party, ruling that the case must be heard afresh after all interested parties are joined.
Justice Isah Dashen delivered the ruling on Friday in Suit No. FHC/LKJ/CS/49/2025, holding that the court’s December 10, 2025, judgment was fundamentally flawed because it was reached without hearing all parties whose legal interests were directly affected by the matter.
The court upheld an application filed by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), declaring that the party was a necessary party to the suit and ought to have been joined before any substantive decision was taken.
Justice Dashen ruled that counsel for the PMP had successfully established the party’s legal interest in the matter, making its participation indispensable to the proceedings.
Earlier Judgment Declared Null and Void
According to the judge, the failure to hear all interested parties rendered the earlier judgment constitutionally defective and legally unsustainable.
He consequently declared the previous proceedings null and void, ordering that the legal status existing before the December 10, 2025 judgment be restored pending the determination of the substantive suit.
The court also observed that material facts had been suppressed during the earlier proceedings, a development Justice Dashen said justified vacating the previous judgment.
As a result, the judge ordered that the substantive suit commence afresh, with INEC, the Peace Movement Party (PMP) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) joined as parties to enable the court fully determine all issues in dispute.
Speaking to journalists after the ruling, counsel to the applicant, C.S. Ekeocha, said the Peace Movement Party approached the court after discovering that the NDC’s registration was based on a logo the PMP had earlier submitted to INEC before the commencement of the suit.
According to him, the court agreed that the party’s rights had been affected, leading to the decision to set aside 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.
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Ekeocha explained that the ruling effectively reverses every action taken by INEC pursuant to the now-vacated judgment.
“The recognition of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, 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 stated.
He, however, stressed that the court had not determined the substantive issues surrounding the registration of the NDC.
“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.
Ekeocha also dismissed suggestions that the court merely ordered parties to maintain the status quo, insisting that the ruling specifically restored the legal position that existed before the December 10, 2025 judgment.
Friday’s ruling effectively reopens the legal dispute over the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, with the Federal High Court expected to conduct a fresh hearing after all relevant parties have been joined in the suit.
The decision means the controversy surrounding the NDC’s registration remains unresolved, pending a fresh determination by the court after hearing all parties with a legal interest in the matter.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.