Nigeria’s opposition Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) said on Sunday it remains a legally registered party and will field candidates in the 2027 general election, despite a court ruling that cast doubt on its status.
The party’s national leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, told Channels Television that a Federal High Court ruling in Lokoja, Kogi State, did not order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove the NDC from the register of parties. He called the ruling flawed and said the party would challenge it on appeal.
The judgment, issued Friday by Justice Isah Dashen, overturned an earlier December 2025 order that had compelled INEC to register the NDC. The case was brought by the Peace Movement Party, which said it had not been included in the original proceedings despite having an interest in a logo dispute tied to the NDC’s registration.
Dickson said the NDC had already completed primary elections for all elective offices — including the presidency, governorships, and National Assembly seats — under INEC’s supervision, and that those nominations remain valid. He said the party would file an appeal and seek a stay of the ruling, and dismissed the case brought by the Peace Movement Party as lacking legal standing.
The dispute comes as Nigeria’s opposition tries to consolidate ahead of 2027. NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi and running mate Rabiu Kwankwaso met with Dickson over the weekend to discuss the party’s response, amid wider efforts by opposition figures to build a coalition against President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress.
INEC has said it is awaiting a certified copy of the judgment before deciding its next steps.
