…’We have not been deregistered. All nominations remain valid’ – Sen. Zuwoghe_
The Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, has rejected a Federal High Court ruling in Lokoja that set aside its December 2025 registration order, describing it as an illegal “back-door” attempt to shrink Nigeria’s democratic space.
In a statement signed by National Chairman, Sen. Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, the party said it has instructed its lawyers to appeal the decision immediately at the Court of Appeal.
NDC said it was registered by INEC after the December 2025 judgment which upheld its constitutional right to freedom of association.
Since then, the party said it has held ward-to-national congresses, conventions, primaries, and has fielded candidates in the recent bye-elections in Nasarawa and Enugu states. It added that candidates for House of Assembly, Reps, Senate, governorship, and presidential positions have been nominated and are being submitted to INEC.
“There was no order directing our deregistration. We assure all our candidates that our party is on course and all nominations remain valid,” the statement read.
The party faulted the application filed by the Peace Movement Party, PMP, which the court upheld. NDC said PMP is “not a registered political party in Nigeria” and “is not seeking registration now to participate in the current political process.”
It argued that the court had become _functus officio_ after delivering final judgment in December 2025, and that PMP’s remedy, if any, was to appeal — not file a motion years later.
“To now try to upturn that verdict through the back door, via a motion, is not only unheard-of, but also illegal and an outright abuse of court process,” NDC said.
NDC accused unnamed persons of seeking to “stifle opposition voices” ahead of 2027. It said it was “too late” to use the judiciary to derail the multi-party process midway into the election timetable.
“We thank Nigerians for their support. We have no doubt that justice will be done at the Court of Appeal,” Sen. Zuwoghe added.
