The legal battle over the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) took a new turn on Friday as the Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, set aside its earlier judgement ordering INEC to register the party.
Delivering the ruling on Friday, Justice Isah Dashen, held that all relevant parties must be heard before any substantive decision can be reached, stressing that due process was not followed in the earlier judgement.
The court upheld an application by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), declaring it a necessary party to the suit and faulting the earlier proceedings for being conducted without its participation. Justice Dashen described the judgement as constitutionally defective and therefore null and void.
He ordered that the status quo prior to the December 2025 judgement be restored, pending a full hearing of the substantive case. The judge also noted that material facts were allegedly suppressed during the earlier proceedings, which contributed to the decision to set aside the judgement.
Consequently, the court directed that the case be heard afresh with INEC, the PMP, and the NDC properly joined as parties.
He said the court agreed that the applicant’s rights were affected, leading to the vacation of the earlier judgement. Ekeocha added that all actions taken by INEC in compliance with the judgement now stand reversed, including the recognition of the NDC and issuance of its certificate of registration. He, however, clarified that the substantive dispute remains unresolved and will now proceed to a fresh hearing where all sides will be heard.
“The court merely set aside its previous judgment and directed that the party whose interests were affected be joined so that all sides can be heard before a fresh decision is reached”, he said.
Ekeocha further argued that the ruling went beyond maintaining the status quo, insisting it restored the position as it existed before the December 10, 2025 judgement.
The case now returns to the Federal High Court for a full rehearing involving all relevant parties.
