Court Orders INEC to Register National Democratic Party

On February 16, 2025, Hon. Justice M.G.

Umar delivered a judgment ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the National Democratic Party (NDP) as a political party. The court found that the NDP, represented by plaintiff Ada Frederick Okwori, had satisfied the legal requirements outlined in Sections 222 and 224 of the 1999 Constitution, as well as Sections 75 and 79 of the Electoral Act 2022 and INEC's regulatory guidelines for political parties.

The court nullified INEC's letter dated December 18, 2025, which had declined the NDP's registration, declaring it void and without legal effect. The ruling included a mandatory order for INEC to register the NDP immediately.

Ada Frederick Okwori, the interim national chairman of the NDP, welcomed the decision, emphasizing its significance for democracy and the rule of law in Nigeria. She assured party members of efforts to strengthen the party's structure nationwide and urged INEC to comply promptly with the court's order.