NDC Reps on Kogi judgement: It is judicial coup against democracy

Says judgement is banditry • Obi’s 2027 ambition threatened as court axes NDC

• It’s temporary setback, our march to new Nigeria cannot be halted —Peter Obi
• NDC expresses shock, heads to Appeal Court

THE leadership of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) on Friday rejected and condemned the Federal High Court, Lokoja’s order purportedly de-registering the political party.

While the party expressed shock at the judgment and promised an appeal, its presidential candidate, Peter Obi said every democrat in Nigeria should be worried.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with our correspondent in Abuja, the NDC House of Representatives Caucus Leader, Hon. Victor Afam Ogene, described the order as “a judicial coup against democracy”.

The Federal High Court had set aside its earlier judgment delivered on December 10, 2025, which directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the NDC.

Delivering judgement on Friday, Justice Isah Dashen ruled that the previous decision could not stand because all necessary parties were not heard before the court reached its conclusion.

However, Hon. Victor Afam Ogene said: “For us and many Nigerians, this is not an error of law. It is an assault on democracy. This is a calculated pattern of judicial harassment. Nigerians have seen this script before.

“An earlier controversial judgment from Abuja sought to de-register five political parties by fiat. But the Court of Appeal promptly reversed that recklessness, affirming that no court can extinguish a political party through judicial shortcuts.

“Many Nigerians believed at the time that such an ugly chapter was closed. Sadly, today’s ruling confirms a renewed campaign to suffocate the opposition by other means.”

While noting that the facts were indisputable, Ogene argued that “the 90-day statutory window to challenge our party’s registration closed long ago. And strangely, INEC, the only constitutionally empowered body for party registration, was not the applicant in today’s curious judgment.

“A court cannot sit in judgment over its own earlier decision, especially one in which the principal party, INEC itself, is not contesting.

“We consider this outrageous development as forum shopping. This was not an appeal. The matter was surreptitiously returned to the same court that earlier ordered INEC to register the NDC. That is not jurisprudence; it is lawfare — the weaponisation of the judiciary against political opponents.

“The timing apparently betrays the intent. The order was issued on the very day INEC was expected to open its portal and issue access codes for political parties to upload candidates for the 2027 elections.

“To target the NDC at the precise moment the electoral process entered this critical phase is not coincidental. It is calculated, deliberate and despicable.

“We make bold to say that this is all about 2027, not the law. And certainly not justice.

“We hold the ruling APC directly responsible for this anti-democratic plot. The objective is clear: to muscle the opposition out of the 2027 elections and reduce Nigeria’s democracy to a coronation for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“We ask the APC: What are you afraid of? If you believe in your record, come to the ballot. Why are you afraid of competition? Why has the courtroom replaced the campaign trail?

“Let it be clear: Nigeria is not a one-party state. 2027 will not be a coronation. We will not yield. The NDC will not be de-registered by judicial decree. We will not be silenced.

“We will pursue this illegality through every available legal remedy, right up to the Supreme Court if that is what is required to return the country to the path of sanity. We trust that the judiciary will rise above partisan pressure and deploy its constitutional powers to defend the Constitution.

“If this order stands, it will trigger a major political crisis and destroy public confidence in the judiciary and INEC. That is a price Nigeria cannot pay.

“To all NDC members across the country: Stay calm. Stay law-abiding. Stay resolute. The NDC was born in struggle. No court order can kill that resolve.”

The Lokoja Federal High Court, delivering judgment on Friday, held that the application filed by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which sought to be joined as an interested party, had merit, having established that it was a necessary party in the matter.

Justice Dashen stated that the earlier proceedings were constitutionally defective, stressing that failure to hear all interested parties rendered the judgment a nullity.

The judge consequently ordered that the status quo be restored pending the determination of the substantive suit.

He further observed that material facts were suppressed in obtaining the 2025 judgment, making it necessary for the court to set aside its earlier decision.

Justice Dashen thereafter directed that the substantive suit commence afresh, with INEC, the Peace Movement Party (PMP), and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) participating as parties in the case.

It’s temporary setback, our march to new Nigeria cannot be halted —Peter Obi’s media office

Meanwhile, the media office of the presidential candidate of the NDC, Mr Peter Obi, has described the court ruling concerning the legal status of the party as a temporary setback, insisting that it would challenge the judgment on appeal.

In a statement issued on Friday by the Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR) and signed by its spokesman, Idris Zekeri Jnr., the organisation said it had been inundated with inquiries from journalists and concerned Nigerians following the ruling.

The statement said Obi had directed supporters, coalition partners and members of the public to remain calm while the party’s legal team reviews the judgment and takes the necessary legal steps.

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“We have received the news of today’s bizarre ruling from the court in Lokoja regarding the legal status of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

“While our legal team is thoroughly reviewing the judgment to initiate immediate corrective and appellate measures, our principal urges all our supporters, coalition partners and patriots nationwide to remain absolutely calm and focused,” the statement said.

POMR maintained that the coalition had anticipated resistance in its effort to challenge Nigeria’s political establishment, describing the judgment as a temporary obstacle rather than a defeat.

“We always knew that the journey to dismantle a deeply entrenched and grossly underperforming political status quo would be met with fierce institutional resistance and unexpected legal detours,” it said.

The group insisted that the ruling would not derail its objective of providing an alternative political platform for Nigerians.

“Today’s ruling is a hurdle, not a stop sign. Our commitment to providing a transparent, legitimate and formidable alternative for Nigerians remains unshakeable. The platform we are building is robust, and our legal rights will be vigorously pursued.

“Do not be discouraged; the vehicle may face a temporary breakdown, but our destination remains non-negotiable,” the statement added.

NDC expresses shock, heads to Court of Appeal

Also, the NDC rejected the court ruling, insisting that the party was duly registered by INEC, and announcing plans to challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal.

In a statement issued on Friday and signed by its National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, the party said it was dissatisfied with the ruling delivered by Justice Isah Dashen on an application filed by what it described as an unregistered association known as the Peace Movement Party (PMP).

According to the NDC, it secured a Federal High Court judgment in December 2025 compelling INEC to register it as a political party after the commission initially declined its application.

“The Federal High Court upheld our constitutional right to freedom of association under the Constitution and compelled INEC to register us, which INEC did,” the party said.

The NDC stated that since its registration it had carried out political activities nationwide, including membership registration, ward, local government, state and national congresses, conventions and party primaries, in line with INEC’s timetable.

It also said it participated in the recent by-elections in Nasarawa and Enugu states and had nominated candidates for the Houses of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, governorship, presidential and vice-presidential elections ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The party described the Peace Movement Party as an unknown and unregistered association, arguing that it lacked the legal standing to seek the reversal of the earlier judgment.

“The association that filed the complaint is unknown to us. The Peace Movement Party (PMP) is not a registered political party in Nigeria. They claimed, in a motion—not even a substantive suit or appeal—that the court should set aside its earlier judgment on the purported ground that, in 2015, they had sought registration as a political party with the victory sign as their symbol and were denied,” the statement read.

The NDC maintained that the trial court had become functus officio after delivering its final judgment in December 2025 and therefore lacked jurisdiction to revisit the matter.

“Accordingly, we have been informed that His Lordship made an order setting aside the court’s earlier decision of December 2025.

“There was no order directing our deregistration. However, we are dissatisfied with the decision, and we have instructed our team of lawyers to immediately proceed to the Court of Appeal to challenge the jurisdiction and propriety of His Lordship’s order,” the statement added.

The party reassured its members and candidates that its political activities remained valid despite the court ruling.

“We assure the general public and particularly our candidates at all levels that our party is on course. The NDC has not been deregistered, and we are challenging today’s order at the Court of Appeal as soon as possible. We have no doubt that justice will be done,” it said.

The NDC also accused unnamed persons of attempting to use the judiciary to weaken opposition politics ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“We condemn efforts by those who seek to shrink the democratic space and stifle opposition voices and alternatives. Nigerians have a right to a full range of opinions, ideas and alternatives, and political parties and candidates should be allowed to participate in the 2027 general election process, which has already gone midway,” the party said.

It argued that if the Peace Movement Party believed it was affected by the December 2025 judgment, its proper legal remedy would have been to file an appeal within the statutory period rather than seek to overturn the judgment through a motion.

“To now try to upturn that verdict through the back door, via a motion, is not only unheard of but also illegal and an outright abuse of court process,” it stated.

The NDC thanked its members and supporters for their continued confidence, insisting that all nominations already conducted remained valid and expressing confidence that the Court of Appeal would overturn the ruling.

Friday’s ruling has generated debate over the legal status of the NDC, with the party maintaining that the judgment merely set aside an earlier decision and did not amount to its deregistration.

The matter is expected to be determined by the Court of Appeal.

Lokoja court ruling another setback for democracy —Obi

The presidential candidate of the NDC, Peter Obi, described the Federal High Court ruling as another setback for Nigeria’s democracy, warning that the country’s democratic institutions are facing a dangerous decline.

Obi made the remarks in a statement posted on his Facebook page on Friday after receiving news of the judgment while attending official engagements in Imo State.

According to him, he travelled from Lagos to Emekuku, where he visited the School of Nursing Sciences to inspect projects funded through his previous interventions, including the institution’s computer laboratory.

“Today was an exceptionally busy day. I left Lagos in the early hours for Emekuku, where I visited the School of Nursing Sciences, an institution I have consistently supported over the years.

“It was gratifying to inspect projects funded through my previous interventions, including the school’s computer laboratory. Such investments reaffirm my belief that education remains one of the strongest foundations for national development,” he said.

The former Anambra State governor said he later attended the 80th birthday celebration of the Emeritus Archbishop of Owerri, Most Rev. Dr. Anthony Obinna, before proceeding to Madonna University, where he received news of the Lokoja court ruling.

“It was at Madonna University that I received news of the Lokoja court ruling through my brother, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso,” Obi stated.

Obi said the judgment should concern every Nigerian committed to the country’s progress.

“Every Nigerian committed to the country’s progress should be deeply concerned. This judgment represents another setback for our democracy and the institutions upon which our future depends,” he said.

He accused some political actors of weakening democratic institutions instead of strengthening them.

“It is regrettable that some who claim to champion democracy now appear determined to weaken the very institutions that sustain it. In doing so, they are undermining public confidence and endangering the future of millions of Nigerians,” Obi noted.

He warned that both the legislature and the judiciary were increasingly being drawn into what he described as institutional decline.

“The legislature and the judiciary are increasingly being drawn into this pattern of institutional decline. Democracy cannot thrive where institutions lose their independence and credibility,” he stated.

Obi maintained that those attempting to undermine democratic institutions would ultimately fail, recalling that he had taken a similar position when another opposition party faced legal challenges.

“Those who seek to weaken Nigeria’s democratic foundations will not ultimately prevail. When a similar situation recently affected the ADC, I condemned it without hesitation. I do so again today because my position has always been guided by principle,” he said.

He stressed that his interest was not centred on political power but on building a functional nation anchored on justice and strong institutions.

“My concern is not about who becomes President. My concern is that Nigeria works. Our politics must move beyond the quest for power and focus instead on building a united nation founded on justice, strong institutions, the rule of law and equal opportunity. That is the Nigeria we owe ourselves and the one we must leave for future generations,” Obi stated.

He called on Nigerians, regardless of political affiliation, to defend the country’s democratic institutions.

“I therefore urge all well-meaning Nigerians to rise above partisan interests and defend our democracy. The survival of our institutions is inseparable from the survival of our nation,” he added.