Court Sets Aside INEC's Order to Register NDC

On Friday, a Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, presided over by Justice Isah Dashen, set aside an earlier judgment that mandated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). This ruling poses a challenge to Peter Obi's presidential ambitions.

The court upheld an application filed by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), stating that the previous judgment was delivered without hearing from all interested parties, rendering the process null and void. Justice Dashen ordered that the status quo be restored to the December 2025 judgment pending the determination of the substantive suit.

The court directed that the parties affected by the decision join the proceedings to ensure a complete resolution of the issues. Chikezi Ekeocha, counsel for the PMP, indicated that the court's ruling allows for a fresh hearing on the matter, emphasizing that the substantive case remains undecided.