…Says it is yet to respond to us
…To be in Court today to file for a stay of execution of the Lokoja FHC ruling
By Henry Umoru
ABUJA-THE Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC said as a party, it has approached the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC for the Access Code to enable it download its candidates on its portal, but the Commission has not responded .
Speaking with Vanguard yesterday, the National Publicity Secretary of the NDC, Osa Director said, “We have approached INEC but they are yet to respond to our request. Hopefully, we shall be in court tomorrow( today to file for a stay of execution of the Lokoja FHC ruling.”
Recall that a Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State on Friday gave a judgment, mandating the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC not to recognise the NDC as a political party pending when all legal issues surrounding it are resolved.
Also recall that the court had earlier set aside its December 2025 judgment that compelled INEC to register the NDC, following an application filed by an association known as the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which claimed ownership of the logo used by the NDC in securing its registration.
The NDC same rejected last week judgment of a Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, mandating the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC not to recognise the NDC as a political party pending when all legal issues surrounding it are resolved, saying that it will head to the Court of Appeal.
Addressing Journalists in Abuja on Friday, the NDC National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe who took a swipe at the judgment of the Court, has insisted that the party remains legally recognized and will immediately challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal.
According to him, the court’s latest decision did not order its deregistration and therefore does not affect its status as a registered political party.
Flanked at the briefing by other members of the NWC of the party, Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe assured Nigerians that it will be on the ballot for the 2027 Presidential and general elections.
According to the party, it approached the Federal High Court in December 2025 after INEC declined to register it, and the court upheld its constitutional right to freedom of association and ordered the electoral commission to grant it registration.
The party stated that following its registration by INEC, it had actively participated in the nation’s political process, including membership registration, ward, local government, state and national congresses, conventions, and primary elections conducted in line with INEC’s timetable.
According to him, the party has also fielded candidates in the recent by-elections in Nasarawa and Enugu states and had already nominated candidates for the House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, Governorship, Presidential and Vice-Presidential elections ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The NDC argued that the Peace Movement Party is neither a registered political party nor an association currently seeking registration under INEC’s ongoing registration exercise, just as it said that the Federal High Court had become functus officio after delivering its final judgment in the matter and had already resolved issues relating to the use of the party’s symbol and colours.
Answering questions from Journalists, the National Chairman who declined to disclose the leader of the party’s legal team, explaining that the identities of counsel would become public once the appeal processes were filed, said, “Our legal processes will be filed by Monday. Once they are filed, Nigerians will know who constitutes the legal team and who is leading it.”
On the court ruling, Cleopas who described it as legally unsustainable, said, “In our opinion, this is one of the most unfortunate judicial decisions we have seen. It has no legal basis, and we are unaware of any judicial precedent that supports it.”
The NDC National Chairman who alleged that the ruling formed part of a broader effort to weaken opposition politics and reduce democratic competition, said, “Recent judicial developments affecting other political parties suggest an attempt to prevent viable opposition from participating in the democratic process. That effort will not succeed. Our candidates will participate in the forthcoming elections.”
Expressing confidence in the appellate courts, he said, “We still have faith in the Nigerian judiciary. The Federal High Court is not the final court in the land. We will pursue this matter through the appellate process and are confident that justice will prevail.”
He assured supporters that the party’s presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Gregory Obi, his running mate, and all NDC candidates would remain on the ballot for the 2027 elections.
According to the National Chairman, the rapid growth of the NDC had unsettled the ruling establishment, adding, “Within four months of registration, the NDC has emerged as a major opposition force. That naturally attracts political attention.”
He maintained that the party’s legal position remained strong and disclosed that he had been at INEC the previous day and was scheduled to return after the briefing to obtain the party’s candidate-upload code.
“This court ruling has not stopped our work. Immediately after this briefing, I am proceeding to INEC to continue the process of uploading our candidates.”
The Chairman who urged party members and candidates to remain calm and continue their campaigns, said, “This is simply another attempt to intimidate us. There is no cause for panic. We remain firm, strong and committed to democracy.”
Calling on Nigerians to participate actively in the electoral process, he urged citizens to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), vote according to their conscience, reject vote-buying and defend their votes, adding, “Nigeria must be rescued through democratic means. We remain confident that justice will prevail and democracy will endure.”
