BREAKING: Fresh Setback for Peter Obi as Court Orders INEC to Cancel NDC Registration

• A Federal High Court in Lokoja has set aside its earlier judgment directing INEC to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), ordering all parties to return to their previous positions pending a fresh hearing.

A Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, has set aside its earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party.

Delivering the ruling on Friday, Justice Isah Dashen held that the earlier judgment affected the rights of the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which was not joined in the case despite claiming ownership of the logo used by the NDC.

Counsel to the Peace Movement Party, C.S. Ekeocha, said the party approached the court after discovering that the NDC’s registration was based on a logo it had previously submitted to INEC.

According to him, the court ordered all parties to return to the positions they occupied before the December 10, 2025 judgment and directed that all necessary parties be joined to ensure the issues are fully determined.

The ruling effectively reverses all actions taken by INEC based on the earlier judgment, including:

• The recognition of the NDC as a political party;
• The issuance of its certificate of registration;
• Its inclusion in INEC’s records; and
• Any appearance on ballot papers arising from the earlier judgment.

Ekeocha stressed that the substantive case is still pending before the court and that Friday’s decision merely sets aside the earlier judgment to allow all affected parties to be heard.

The development means the dispute over the registration of the NDC will return to court for a fresh hearing.

Reacting to the ruling, the Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR) described the judgment as a temporary setback and insisted that its political movement remains on course.

In a statement signed by spokesperson Idris Zekeri Jnr, POMR said its legal team was reviewing the judgment and preparing immediate corrective and appellate measures.

“Today’s ruling is a hurdle, not a stop sign. The vehicle may face a temporary breakdown, but our destination remains non-negotiable.”

The group also urged supporters and coalition partners to remain calm, insisting that the push for a “New Nigeria” cannot be halted despite the latest legal setback.