Court Nullifies Nigeria Democratic Congress Registration Over Logo Dispute

A Federal High Court in Lokoja nullified a December 2025 judgment that had compelled the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). Justice Isah Dashen ruled on June 26, 2026, that the original proceedings were constitutionally defective because they excluded the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which claims ownership of the victory sign logo used by the NDC. The court ordered a restoration of the status quo existing before the December ruling, effectively requiring INEC to withdraw the NDC's registration certificate.

The NDC, led by National Chairman Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe and National Leader Seriake Dickson, rejected the ruling as a judicial anomaly and a threat to multi-party democracy. The party argues the court was functus officio and lacked jurisdiction to revisit a final judgment. While the NDC maintains that the ruling does not constitute a formal deregistration and that its candidates for the 2027 elections remain viable, the party accused INEC of blocking access to candidate nomination upload codes following the decision.

Opposition figures, including presidential candidate Peter Obi and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, characterized the ruling as "lawfare" and a coordinated attempt by the administration of President Bola Tinubu to weaken political challengers. The Peoples Democratic Party and African Democratic Congress condemned the move as a strategy to establish a one-party state. The NDC has since announced plans to challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal to ensure its candidates remain on the 2027 ballot.