By Friday Temitope Eugenia
National News – The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has intensified efforts to challenge the recent Federal High Court ruling that nullified its registration, with the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, national leader Seriake Dickson, former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso and other top officials leading consultations ahead of filing an appeal today.
The move follows Friday’s judgment by the Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, which set aside its earlier decision directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the NDC as a political party.
A senior party official disclosed that the NDC leadership had held a series of emergency meetings over the weekend to finalise its legal strategy before approaching the Court of Appeal.
According to the source, Obi, Dickson, the party’s National Chairman, National Secretary and members of the National Working Committee participated in the deliberations, while another meeting was convened on Sunday to conclude preparations for the appeal.
The official said the party’s National Legal Adviser, Reuben Egwuaba, would play a central role in the legal challenge, although the lead counsel had yet to be announced.
Confirming the planned appeal, the party’s National Secretary, Ikenna Enekweizu, said the legal processes would be filed today but declined to disclose the composition of the legal team.
He described the Lokoja judgment as legally unfounded and maintained that the party remained confident of overturning the ruling at the appellate court.
Enekweizu argued that the decision was part of attempts to weaken opposition politics ahead of the 2027 general elections, insisting that the NDC remained eligible to participate in the polls.
“Our candidates, from the presidential election to the state assembly elections, will be on the ballot. We have confidence that the Court of Appeal will correct the errors in the judgment,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kwankwaso has assured party members that the legal setback would not derail the NDC’s political ambitions.
Following a meeting with Dickson in Abuja on Sunday, the former Kano governor said the engagement was part of efforts to strengthen the party’s unity and strategic preparations for the 2027 elections.
He urged members to remain calm and expressed confidence in the judicial process, stressing that the party would overcome the current challenge.
Also reacting, NDC National Chairman Moses Cleopas said the party had anticipated legal and political obstacles and remained optimistic that the Court of Appeal would overturn the ruling.
He described the judgment as an abuse of the judicial process and urged judicial officers to uphold the integrity of the courts.
Beyond the legal battle, another senior party official revealed that the NDC had activated a nationwide public engagement campaign involving civil society organisations, media groups and other stakeholders to build public support for its position.
Dickson, speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Sunday, appealed to party members and candidates not to be discouraged by the court ruling.
He dismissed reports that some aspirants were considering leaving the party, insisting that the judgment neither deregistered the NDC nor prevented it from participating in the 2027 elections.
According to him, the party would pursue all available legal remedies through the appellate courts rather than seeking disciplinary action against the trial judge.
The Lokoja court had ruled that its earlier judgment directing INEC to register the NDC was delivered without hearing all parties affected by the dispute, particularly the Peace Movement Party, which laid claim to the disputed party logo.
The ruling restored the parties to their positions before the December 2025 judgment that recognised the NDC, while INEC said it was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before taking further action.
Legal experts who spoke on the development said the NDC has a constitutional right to challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Adedayo Adedeji, noted that the ruling did not automatically disqualify the party or its candidates from future elections, adding that the appellate process remained open.
Another Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Itse Sagay, said the Court of Appeal was expected to hear the matter expeditiously because of its national political significance.
He, however, cautioned that if the appellate court upheld the judgment, the party could be barred from participating in the 2027 general elections.
Also commenting, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Adelola Adedipe, argued that the latest ruling merely set aside the earlier order compelling INEC to register the NDC and should not be interpreted as a final deregistration of the party.
He advised the party to vigorously contest the substantive case while pursuing its appeal, noting that the final determination of the matter would shape the NDC’s political future ahead of the 2027 elections.
