INEC to Review Court Ruling Before Acting on NDC Registration

The Independent National Electoral Commission says it will not take a position on the recent Federal High Court judgment affecting the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) until it receives and reviews the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the ruling.

Speaking on Saturday, Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, said the commission was aware of media reports on the June 26 judgment but had yet to obtain the certified court document.

According to him, INEC's legal department will study the judgment once the CTC is received before deciding on the commission's next course of action.

"Once the Commission's legal department receives and thoroughly studies the CTC of the judgment, INEC will take an informed, lawful decision in line with the court's directives. Until then, we cannot comment on the specifics of the ruling," Oketola said.

The response follows Friday's judgment by the Federal High Court in Lokoja, which set aside its December 10, 2025 order directing INEC to register the NDC as a political party.

Justice Isah Dashen ruled that the Peace Movement Party was not joined in the original suit despite claiming ownership of the logo used in securing the registration order. 

The court subsequently restored all parties to their positions before the December 2025 judgment and ordered a fresh hearing with all necessary parties included.

The NDC has rejected the ruling and announced plans to appeal. 

It's National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas, argued that the party had not been deregistered and maintained that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to reopen a matter on which it had already delivered a final judgment.

The judgment has also drawn criticism from opposition figures, including the party's presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and National Leader, Senator Henry Dickson, who described the ruling as a threat to Nigeria's multiparty democracy.

INEC, however, insists it will reserve its official position until it receives and reviews the Certified True Copy of the judgment.