A Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, has set aside its earlier judgment that compelled the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), ordering a fresh hearing of the suit.
Delivering judgment in Suit No. FHC/LKJ/CS/49/2025, Justice Isah Dashen held that all interested parties must be heard before any substantive decision can be reached in the matter.
The court upheld an application filed by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), ruling that the party is a necessary party to the suit and has a legal interest that warrants its inclusion in the proceedings.
Justice Dashen declared that the earlier judgment of December 10, 2025, was constitutionally defective because it was delivered without hearing from all relevant parties, rendering the entire process null and void.
The court consequently ordered that the status quo be restored to what it was before the December 2025 judgment, pending the determination of the substantive suit.
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The judge also noted that certain material facts were suppressed during the earlier proceedings, which justified the decision to vacate the judgment.
The court directed that the substantive suit commence afresh, with INEC, the Peace Movement Party and the Nigeria Democratic Congress joined as parties in the case.
Counsel to the applicant, C.S. Ekeocha, said the Peace Movement Party approached the court after discovering that the NDC’s registration was based on a logo it had previously submitted to INEC before the commencement of the suit.
According to him, the implication of the ruling is that every action taken by INEC in compliance with the now-vacated judgment stands reversed.
He said the recognition of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, the issuance of its certificate of registration, its inclusion in INEC’s records and any appearance on ballot papers arising from the earlier judgment must be withdrawn pending the final determination of the substantive suit.
The ruling effectively returns the dispute over the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress to the Federal High Court for a fresh hearing with all relevant parties expected to participate before a new decision is reached.
