Obi, Kwankwaso, Dickson Launch Legal Battle After Court Nullifies NDC Registration

• The Nigeria Democratic Congress has intensified efforts to overturn a Federal High Court ruling that nullified its registration, with Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso and other party leaders holding emergency strategy meetings ahead of an appeal on Monday.

The leadership of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has launched an aggressive legal and political response after a Federal High Court in Lokoja set aside its earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the party.

Sources within the party disclosed that a series of marathon meetings involving presidential candidate Peter Obi, National Leader Seriake Dickson, National Chairman Moses Cleopas and other top officials were held over the weekend to finalise plans for an appeal expected to be filed on Monday.

A senior party official, who spoke anonymously, said the emergency meetings focused on the party’s legal strategy and preparations to challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal.

“Obi, Senator Dickson, the party chairman and other executives met on Saturday, and another emergency session was held on Sunday. We are fully prepared to challenge this ruling,” the source said.

NDC National Secretary, Ikenna Enekweizu, confirmed that the appeal would be filed on Monday but declined to reveal who would lead the party’s legal team.

Describing the Lokoja judgment as unprecedented, Enekweizu insisted that the ruling lacked legal foundation and accused unnamed political forces of attempting to shrink Nigeria’s democratic space ahead of the 2027 general election.

“We are convinced that our candidates, from the presidential ticket to the House of Assembly, will be on the ballot. This ruling will not stop us,” he said.

The party also received a morale boost from former Kano State governor and NDC vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who visited Seriake Dickson in Abuja on Sunday.

Kwankwaso described the court ruling as a temporary setback and urged party members to remain calm and focused.

“No temporary setback can weaken the spirit of a movement built on hope, justice and the collective aspirations of Nigerians,” he said.

Similarly, Dickson dismissed fears that the judgment could destabilise the party, assuring members that the NDC had not been deregistered and would remain in the 2027 race.

“There is no fear. This is intended to distract us and shake our faith, but we are stronger. The NDC is on the ballot and our candidates will participate in the elections,” he declared.

Beyond the courtroom, party officials revealed that the NDC has activated a broad public engagement campaign involving civil society organisations, pressure groups and the media to build support for its position.

Legal experts who spoke on the matter also stressed that the party still has constitutional avenues to challenge the decision.

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Adedayo Adedeji, said the ruling does not automatically prevent the party from contesting elections, noting that the appellate process remains open.

Another senior lawyer, Itse Sagay (SAN), expressed confidence that the Court of Appeal would treat the matter with urgency because of its national political implications.

The NDC has maintained that the Lokoja judgment neither deregistered the party nor ended its participation in the 2027 general election, insisting that it remains determined to pursue justice through every available legal channel.