Court of Appeal Restores Nigeria Democratic Congress Registration

The Court of Appeal in Abuja overturned a June 2026 ruling by the Federal High Court in Lokoja that had ordered the deregistration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). In a 2-1 split decision, Justices Mohammed Danjuma and Muslim Sule Hassan ruled that the lower court abused its power by effectively appealing its own December 2025 judgment. The appellate court further dismissed claims by the Peace Movement Party regarding the NDC's logo, labeling the group a meddlesome interloper that lacked the legal standing to bring the suit because it was not a registered political party.

Justice Okon Abang dissented from the majority, arguing the appeal was dead on arrival because the NDC filed it 53 days after the statutory 14-day deadline. Despite the dissent, the ruling restores the NDC's legal status and directs the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognize the party.

National Leader of the NDC and former governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, hailed the verdict as a victory for multiparty democracy. He confirmed that the party's registration remains valid and urged members to focus on campaigns to defeat the All Progressives Congress at the polls in the 2027 general elections.