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The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court in Lokoja, which purportedly ordered the deregistration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), the party’s National Leader, Senator Dickson Seriake, has announced.

Seriake, in a statement posted on his X account, said the appellate court allowed the NDC’s appeal challenging the judgment delivered by Justice Isah Dashen of the Federal High Court, Lokoja, several months ago.

According to him, the judgment of the Court of Appeal was delivered by the presiding Justice, Mohammed Danjuma, and read by Justice Hassan.

He said the appellate court consequently set aside the Lokoja Federal High Court judgment, which had threatened the continued registration and participation of the NDC as a political party.

Seriake described the Court of Appeal decision as a significant development for the NDC and Nigeria’s multiparty democracy, saying it had restored the party’s right to participate in political activities and elections.

“We want to use this opportunity once again to commend the Nigerian judiciary, and in particular, Hon. Justice Danjuma and Hon. Justice Hassan, for upholding the integrity of the Nigerian judiciary and, by their decisions, expanding the sphere of multiparty democratic participation in Nigeria,” he said.

The NDC leader said the party had consistently maintained that its formation was intended to expand the frontiers of multiparty democracy in Nigeria.

He described the earlier Federal High Court judgment as an “unexpected assault” on the party’s constitutional right to participate in the political process, arguing that it amounted to an attempt to narrow the country’s democratic space.

“With the decision of the Court of Appeal, the Nigerian democratic space has been protected, and the NDC’s right to participate in all political activities as a registered political party has been upheld,” Seriake said.

He congratulated members and candidates of the party while expressing appreciation to Nigerians who, according to him, offered prayers and support following the Federal High Court judgment.

Seriake declared that the NDC’s registration remained valid and subsisting, adding that the party and its candidates would participate in the 2027 elections and subsequent elections.

“The NDC continues to exist. Our registration remains valid and subsisting, and we and all our candidates will participate in all elections in 2027 and beyond, by the grace of God,” he said.

The NDC leader consequently urged party members to shift their attention to the 2027 campaigns and preparations for the elections.

He also accused unnamed actors of attempting to influence the judiciary through pressure, saying such efforts would not succeed.

“A resort to arm-twisting, inducing or intimidating the judiciary will not work,” he said, while expressing confidence in the party’s message, candidates and membership.

Seriake further declared that the NDC was ready to confront the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the polls.

“We remain confident in the strength of our message, the commitment of our members, the viability of our candidates, and the support of Nigerians,” he said.

He ended the statement with a renewed declaration of the party’s commitment to multiparty democracy, saying: “The fight for Nigeria’s multiparty democracy continues and by the grace of God we will emerge victorious.

“NDC ALL THE WAY.”