NDC Faces Major Challenge After Court Ruling in Lokoja

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) is confronting its most significant challenge to date after a Federal High Court in Lokoja set aside a December 2025 judgment that had ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the party. This ruling has sparked fresh debates about the state of democracy in Nigeria and the future of opposition politics ahead of the 2027 general elections.

NDC maintains that it has not been deregistered and has already approached the court to appeal the ruling. NDC Chairman Mose Cleopa Zuwogh stated that no order has been made for deregistration and that they are taking the matter seriously.

The ruling has raised concerns among political observers about the government's desire for a free and fair electoral contest. Additionally, former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso have joined the NDC, further solidifying the party's position as a formidable opposition coalition.