Court Orders Deregistration Of NDC, Strips Party Of Legal Recognition
The Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, has been struck off the Independent National Electoral Commission's, INEC’s, list of registered political parties after a Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja reversed its earlier order, forcing the electoral commission to recognise it.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, has been struck off the Independent National Electoral Commission's, INEC’s, list of registered political parties after a Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja reversed its earlier order, forcing the electoral commission to recognise it.
The fresh ruling was delivered by the court presided over by Justice Isah Dashen on Friday.
The fresh ruling was delivered by the court presided over by Justice Isah Dashen on Friday.
The All Democratic Alliance, ADA, had filed the suit challenging NDC 's registration, arguing that the party failed to meet INEC’s statutory requirements, including completing registration through the commission’s official portal and submitting key documents such as its manifesto.
The court’s new judgment vacates the previous order that compelled INEC to register the NDC. With that legal basis removed, the party is no longer recognised as a registered political party under Nigerian law.
The implication is immediate: INEC is no longer under any obligation to retain the NDC on its register of political parties, and the party cannot field or sponsor candidates in elections until it secures fresh recognition.
The NDC had earlier secured a court directive that led INEC to include it among recognised parties.
The court held that there were “legal and procedural issues” with the earlier judgement, making it necessary to set it aside.
The decision leaves the NDC’s political activities on hold, leaving the party either the option of appealing the judgement or reinitiating the registration process by fully complying with INEC’s requirements.
The court’s new judgment vacates the previous order that compelled INEC to register the NDC. With that legal basis removed, the party is no longer recognised as a registered political party under Nigerian law.
The implication is immediate: INEC is no longer under any obligation to retain the NDC on its register of political parties, and the party cannot field or sponsor candidates in elections until it secures fresh recognition.
The NDC had earlier secured a court directive that led INEC to include it among recognised parties.
The court held that there were “legal and procedural issues” with the earlier judgement, making it necessary to set it aside.
The decision leaves the NDC’s political activities on hold, leaving the party either the option of appealing the judgement or reinitiating the registration process by fully complying with INEC’s requirements.
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