'E too late for anyone to try use judiciary to narrow Nigeria multi-party democratic space' - NDC challenge ruling wey nullify registration

Di Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) don reject Friday ruling of di Federal High Court for Lokoja, Kogi State, north-central Nigeria, wey set aside earlier judgment wey direct Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) to register dem as political party.

Inside one statement wey dia National Chairman Senator Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe sign, di party say dem don instruct dia lawyers to immediately challenge di ruling at di Court of Appeal.

Di Federal High Court, wey Justice Isah Dashen bin preside ova, set aside di December 2025 judgment wey bin direct Inec to register di NDC.

Justice Dashen make di Friday ruling to one application filed by di Peace Movement Party (PMP).

Di court say di earlier judgment bin dey defective becos dem no hear all parties wey dia interests fit dey affected bifor di December decision bin dey delivered.

Di court declare say such omission render di entire process null and void.

Justice Dashen further rule say di status quo gatz dey restored to wetin e be bifor December 2025 judgment, pending di determination of di substantive suit.

E also observe say certain material facts bin dey suppressed for di earlier proceedings, wey justify di decision to set aside di judgment.

Reacting, di NDC maintain say no order don direct dia deregistration, and insist say dem remain political party while dem dey pursue appeal against di latest decision.

"No order don direct our deregistration. However, we dey dissatisfied wit di decision wey dem don make, and we don instruct our team of lawyers to immediately proceed to di Court of Appeal to challenge di jurisdiction and propriety of His Lordship order," di party tok.

Di party say dem bin approach di Federal High Court for 2025 afta Inec refuse to register dem despite dia constitutional right to freedom of association.

According to di NDC, di court subsequently rule in dia favour and compel Inec to register dem as political party.

Di party question di legal standing of di Peace Movement Party, and describe dem as unregistered association wey no dey participate for di current political process or dey seek registration under Inec ongoing exercise.

According to di NDC, di Federal High Court don already become functus officio afta dem deliver dia final judgment for December 2025 and therefore lack jurisdiction to revisit di mata through wetin dem describe as mere motion rather dan substantive suit or appeal.

Di party also argue say issues wey relate to di use of dia symbol and colours don already dey determined for di earlier judgment and add say nobodi don file appeal against dat decision.

"We assure di general public, and particularly our candidates for all levels, say our party dey on course. Di NDC neva dey deregistered, and we dey challenge today order for di Court of Appeal as soon as possible.

"We no get doubt say justice go happun," NDC tok.

Wetin di ruling mean for NDC?

Di court order say make di substantive suit begin afresh, wit Inec, di PMP and di NDC as parties to di case.

Counsel to di applicant, Chikezie Ekeocha, tell journalists say PMP bin approach di court afta dem discova say di NDC registration na based on one logo dem don previously submit to Inec bifor di commencement of di suit.

According to Ekeocha, di court agree say di applicant rights don dey affected and vacate di earlier judgment.

"Di court don order all parties to return to di position wey dem bin occupy bifor di judgment of December 10, 2025, and direct di claimants to join all necessary parties to ensure di issues in dispute dey effectually and completely determined," e tok.

Ekeocha explain say di implication of di ruling be say evri action wey Inec bin take to comply wit di now-vacated judgment stand reversed.

"Di recognition of di NDC, di issuance of im certificate of registration, im inclusion for Inec records, and any appearance on ballot papers wey arise from dat judgment gatz dey withdrawn pending di final determination of di substantive suit," Ekeocha tok.

E, however, clarify say di substantive case remain bifor di court and neva dey decided.

"Di mata neva dey concluded. Di court merely set aside im previous judgment and direct say di party wey im interests bin dey affected be joined so all sides fit dey heard bifor fresh decision dey reached."

Di ruling effectively return di dispute ova di registration of di NDC to di Federal High Court for fresh hearing, wit all relevant parties expected to participate bifor court make new determination.