…Judge cites ‘natural justice’ as Peace Movement Party was not heard_
A Federal High Court in Lokoja has nullified its December 10, 2025 judgment that ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, as a political party.
Delivering the ruling on Thursday, Justice Isah Dashen said the earlier decision was a nullity because all interested parties were not given a fair hearing, in line with the principles of natural justice.
Justice Dashen upheld an application filed by the Peace Movement Party, PMP, which argued that it had a direct legal interest in the suit but was not joined in the December 2025 proceedings.
The court held that the exclusion of PMP made the previous proceedings constitutionally defective. It also found that material facts were suppressed during the earlier hearing, which further warranted setting the judgment aside.
“The status quo is to be restored pending the hearing of the substantive suit,” the judge ruled.
Justice Dashen ordered that the substantive suit should begin afresh, with INEC, the NDC, and the PMP all joined as parties to the case.
Speaking after the ruling, an affected party, Sylvester Ekeocha, said the decision had corrected a procedural error in the case.
