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ABUJA — The Nigerian political landscape has been thrown into fresh turmoil following a controversial judgment by the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, which essentially clears the path for the deregistration of the newly formed Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed it is currently expecting the official service of the court order to carry out the deregistration and take a “lawful decision” regarding the party’s status.
The Court’s Reversal
On June 26, the Lokoja division of the Federal High Court shocked the political establishment by setting aside its own earlier judgment that had directed INEC to recognize and register the NDC.
The presiding judge held that the initial proceedings were constitutionally defective. The court noted that an interested party in the registration dispute—the Peace Movement Party—was neither joined in the suit nor granted a fair hearing before the original judgment was delivered. Consequently, the court ordered a fresh hearing, effectively placing the NDC’s legal recognition on hold.
The NDC, established in February 2026, has rapidly evolved into a formidable opposition force following the high-profile defections of 2023 presidential candidates Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, who left the ADC to build a unified mega-party ahead of the 2027 elections.
“A Hurdle, Not a Setback”
Despite the looming deregistration, the NDC leadership has moved swiftly to control the narrative and keep its base energized.
Peter Obi has officially described the judicial ruling as merely a “hurdle rather than a setback.” In a statement issued through the Peter Obi Media Reach by spokesman Idris Zekeri, Obi urged supporters to remain calm and resolute. He assured the public that the party’s legal team is already reviewing the Lokoja judgment and will immediately file an appeal to ensure the NDC remains on the ballot.
Fierce Public Backlash
The court’s decision has triggered a firestorm of reactions across Nigeria’s civic and political spaces. Many Nigerians have taken to social media and the streets to express their frustration, widely viewing the ruling as a calculated, establishment-backed attempt to stifle the strongest opposition bloc.
Prominent activist Aisha Yesufu delivered one of the most scathing responses to the verdict. In a fiery broadcast, she declared the 2027 election a “war for the soul of Nigeria,” insisting that the incumbent administration will not run unopposed. She issued a stern warning to the political class against using judicial technicalities to suppress opponents, stating: “Don’t be so desperate for power you destroy the country.”
Across social media, public sentiment remains intensely polarized:
- Opposition Supporters: Many argue the ruling is blatant political sabotage. They view the sudden emergence of the “Peace Movement Party” in the legal dispute as a deliberate proxy tactic engineered to stall the NDC’s momentum and tie it down in endless litigation.
- Legal Analysts: Conversely, some constitutional experts maintain that due process must be followed. If a legitimately interested party was excluded from the initial registration lawsuit, they argue, the court acted correctly in ordering a fresh hearing to prevent future legal technicalities from nullifying the party down the line.
As the nation waits to see INEC’s next administrative move, all eyes are now shifting to the Court of Appeal. Whether the NDC can quickly overturn the deregistration order or will be forced to rethink its strategy remains the defining political question of the season.
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