BREAKING: Court Orders INEC to Deregister Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC)

Lokoja, Nigeria – June 26, 2026

A Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State, has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), effectively nullifying the party's legal recognition.

Justice Isah Dashen delivered the ruling on Friday, setting aside the court's earlier judgment of December 10, 2025, which had directed INEC to register the NDC as a political party.

The court held that the earlier judgment was constitutionally defective because it affected the rights of the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which was not joined as a party in the original suit despite claiming ownership of the logo used in the registration process.

As a result of the ruling, all actions taken pursuant to the previous judgment were vacated, returning the NDC to its pre-registration status. The decision means the party is no longer recognised by INEC unless it successfully completes a fresh registration process or secures a different court ruling.

The judgment could have significant political implications ahead of the 2027 general elections, as the NDC had recently emerged as a platform attracting prominent political figures.

There was no immediate response from INEC or the leadership of the NDC at the time of filing this report. Legal analysts expect the party to challenge the judgment at the Court of Appeal.

The latest ruling marks another chapter in the legal dispute surrounding the registration of the NDC and highlights the importance of due process and the inclusion of all interested parties in electoral litigation.