NDC Deregistration: Mixed reactions trail court judgement as Obi’s ambition suffers setback

The 2027 presidential ambition of Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso suffered a fresh setback on Friday after a Federal High Court in Lokoja set aside its earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, as a political party.

DAILY POST reported that Justice Isah Dashen, who delivered the ruling, held that the court’s earlier judgment affected the rights of the Peace Movement Party, PMP, which claimed ownership of the logo adopted by the NDC.

The judge ruled that the PMP was not joined as a party in the original suit despite its claim over the disputed logo.

Recall that the NDC was registered by INEC following the same court’s order issued on December 15, 2025.

According to counsel to the PMP, C.S. Ekeocha, the association approached the court after discovering that the NDC registration was based on a logo it had earlier submitted to INEC before the litigation commenced.

The ruling means the dispute over the registration of the NDC will return to the Federal High Court for a fresh hearing with all relevant parties participating.

The decision has since triggered widespread reactions from the NDC, opposition figures, legal experts and political commentators.

Opposition parties are warning that the development could have far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s multi-party democracy ahead of the 2027 general election.