Peter Obi’s ambitions falter, as court sets aside order for INEC to register NDC

The presidential ambitions of former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi may have been derailed, as the Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, on Friday overturned an earlier decision directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party.

Justice Isah Dashen, the presiding judge, argued that all relevant parties must be heard before a substantive decision can be taken on the matter.

The court upheld the petition filed by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), ruling that the party was a necessary party in the lawsuit.

According to the judge, the previous decision was constitutionally flawed because it was handed down without listening to all interested parties.

He stated that such negligence rendered the entire process null and void.

Judge Dashen further ruled that the status quo be restored to what it was before the ruling in December 2025, pending the determination of the substantive lawsuit.

He also observed that certain material facts were suppressed in the previous trial, thus justifying the decision to set aside the verdict.

Therefore, the court ordered that the substantive lawsuit must start from the beginning, with INEC, PMP and NDC as parties to the case.

Counsel for the applicant, Chikezie Ekeocha, told journalists that the PMP approached the court after discovering that the NDC registration was based on a logo that had previously been submitted to INEC before the commencement of the lawsuit.

According to Ekeocha, the court agreed that the applicant’s rights had been affected thereby overturning the previous ruling.

“The court has ordered all parties to return to the positions they occupied prior to the decision on December 10, 2025, and directed the plaintiffs to join all necessary parties to ensure the disputed issues are decided effectively and completely,” he said.

He explained that the implication of the decision was that any action taken by INEC in accordance with the now vacated decision would be annulled.

“The recognition of the NDC, the issuance of its certificate of registration, its inclusion in the records of INEC, and any appearance on the ballot paper arising from the said decision must be withdrawn pending the final determination of the substantive challenge,” Ekeocha said.

However, he emphasized that the substantive case is still in court and has not been decided.

“The problem is not resolved. The court simply set aside the previous decision and ordered the parties whose interests were harmed to join so that all parties could be heard before a new decision was made.”

Ekeocha also rejected the notion that the court simply ordered the parties to maintain the status quo, and emphasized that the judgment specifically directed the restoration of the position that existed prior to the December 10, 2025 ruling.

The decision effectively returns the dispute over NDC registration to the Federal High Court for a new hearing, and all relevant parties are expected to participate before a new decision is made.