INEC Expected to Deregister NDC as Certified True Copy of Court Ruling Emerges

• The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is expected to deregister the NDC following a Federal High Court judgment
• The court ruled in favour of the Peace Movement Party (PMP) regarding the NDC's logo dispute ahead of the 2027 general elections
• The Certified True Copy of the court judgment deregistering the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) emerged after the ruling

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Legit.ng journalist Adekunle Dada has over 8 years of experience covering metro, government policy, and international issues.

FCT, Abuja - The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is now expected to remove the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) from its register of recognised political parties following the emergence of the Certified True Copy of the Federal High Court judgment ordering the deregistration of the party.

Legit.ng reports that Justice Isa H. Dashen of the Federal High Court, Lokoja Judicial Division, ordered INEC to deregister the NDC ahead of the 2027 elections.

As reported by Vanguard, the court ruling nullified the prior judgment because it affected the legal rights of the Peace Movement Party (PMP).

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The PMP claimed ownership of the logo used by the NDC but was never joined as a party to the original lawsuit.

The Certified True Copy partially read:

“Accordingly, I hold that the Applicant has established exceptional circumstances recognised by law warranting the exercise of this Court’s inherent jurisdiction. I further hold that the judgment delivered on 10th December 2025 was entered in proceedings conducted without the participation of a necessary party whose legal interests were affected.

"The application of the Party Affected/Applicant succeeds and is hereby granted.

"The judgment delivered by this Court on 10″ December 2025 in Suit No. FHC/LKJ/CS/49/2025 is hereby set aside.

"Suit No. FHC/LKJ/CS/49/2025 shall revert to the stage it occupied immediately before the delivery of the judgment set aside herein.

"The parties shall be at liberty to take all necessary and permissible procedural steps under the Rules of this Court for the effectual determination of the substantive dispute.

"No order as to costs.

"This shall be the Ruling of this Honourable Court.”

INEC set to remove NDC from register

Recall that INEC planned to deregister the NDC following a court ruling before the 2027 elections.

Justice Dashen overturned the previous ruling, impacting NDC's status as a political party.

The INEC Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, said the commission awaits the Certified True Copy of the recent judgment to proceed with its next line of action.

Kwankwaso, Dickson hold emergency meeting over NDC fate

Meanwhile, Legit.ng earlier reported that the NDC National leader, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, met behind closed doors with the party’s vice presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, in Abuja.

Dickson said he and Kwankwaso discussed issues of mutual interest concerning our party. He added that they resolved to stand and fight together for multi-party democracy.

The former Bayelsa state governor said he briefed Kwankwaso on the measures the party is taking following the court ruling.

Proofreading by Funmilayo Aremu, copy editor at Legit.ng.