Court orders INEC to deregister NDC
By Ishaya Ibrahim
A Federal High Court in Lokoja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to deregister the Nigeria Democratic Congress, throwing the political future of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, into doubt.
The ruling vacates the same court’s earlier judgment in Suit No. FHC/LKJ/CS/49/2025, which had compelled INEC to list the NDC in January. That order was the sole legal basis for the party’s registration.
The reversal follows a challenge by rival groups, notably the All Democratic Alliance. The ADA argued that the NDC had not met statutory conditions for registration, failing to complete INEC’s application portal and to submit key documents, including its manifesto.
In its latest decision, the court agreed that the order compelling registration should no longer stand. The judgment means the NDC is, for now, not a recognised political party and cannot sponsor candidates for any election until it secures fresh approval from INEC.
The court’s decision returns the NDC to the start of the registration process.
