Court Voids INEC Registration of Peter Obi’s NDC Over Logo Dispute

The Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja has set aside its earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party, citing a dispute over the party's logo.

Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Isah Dashen ruled that the court's earlier decision of December 10, 2025, adversely affected the rights of the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which was not joined as a party in the suit despite claiming prior ownership of the logo adopted by the NDC.

Speaking with journalists after the ruling, counsel to the PMP, C.S. Ekeocha, said his client approached the court after discovering that the NDC's registration was based on a logo the PMP had previously submitted to INEC before the legal proceedings commenced.

According to Ekeocha, the court found merit in the application and consequently vacated its earlier judgment. The court also directed all parties to return to the position they occupied before the December 10, 2025, judgment and ordered the claimants to join all necessary parties to enable the court fully determine the issues in dispute.

The ruling effectively requires INEC to withdraw every action taken in compliance with the earlier judgment, including the recognition of the NDC as a political party, the issuance of its certificate of registration, its inclusion in the commission's official records, and any appearance on ballot papers, pending the final determination of the substantive suit.

Ekeocha clarified that the case has not been concluded, stressing that the court merely set aside its previous judgment to ensure that all parties whose interests may be affected are given the opportunity to be heard before a fresh decision is reached.

He also dismissed suggestions that the court only ordered parties to maintain the status quo, insisting that the judgment specifically restored the legal position that existed before the December 10, 2025, ruling.

The latest development marks a significant twist in the legal battle surrounding the registration of the NDC, with the court expected to revisit the substantive issues after all necessary parties have been joined in the proceedings.