Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, says it will head to the Court of Appeal to challenge a Federal High Court ruling in Lokoja that set aside an earlier judgement ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to register the party.
The party’s Presidential candidate for the 2027 election Peter Obi, in a swift reaction on Friday also described the court’s decision as a detour incapable of preventing the party from reaching its destination.
At a briefing in Abuja, the National Chairman, Moses Cleopas, said it had initially gone to court after INEC refused to register it, adding that the court upheld its constitutional right to freedom of association and compelled the commission to register the association, a directive INEC complied with.
According to the party, it has since commenced political activities, registered members, held congresses from ward to national levels, conducted conventions and concluded primaries for all offices in line with INEC’s timetable.
It added that it had participated in the recently concluded bye-elections in Nasarawa and Enugu states and had nominated candidates for the House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, governorship, presidential and vice-presidential positions, which it said were being prepared for formal submission to INEC.
The party faulted the court for entertaining the motion filed by Peace Movement Party, PMP, arguing that the group was not seeking registration under the current process and had no standing to challenge the earlier judgement.
MUST READ: Kano Govt. Launches 10-Year Programme To Overhaul Schools, Boost Students Performance
It also maintained that the court had become functus officio after delivering its final judgement and that there was no appeal against the decision.
The NDC said it had not been deregistered and that no order to that effect was made and has instructed its lawyers to immediately challenge the ruling at the appellate court.
It condemned what it described as attempts to shrink Nigeria’s democratic space and stifle opposition voices, insisting that political platforms should be allowed to participate freely in the 2027 general election process.
The party said any association affected by the earlier judgment ought to have appealed within the legal window, noting that any attempt to overturn the verdict through a motion was illegal and an abuse of court process.
The NDC assured its members, supporters and candidates that all nominations remained valid and that justice would ultimately be served.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
