Banner Online News

Party vows to appeal ‘illegal and unheard of ruling that threatens to derail 2027 elections

By Our Correspondent

ABUJA — The National Chairman of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, has launched a blistering attack on a Federal High Court ruling in Lokoja, describing it as a dangerous assault on Nigeria’s multi-party democracy and an “abuse of court process” that must be overturned immediately.

In a strongly worded statement released today, the NDC accused the court of facilitating what it called a “back door” judicial maneuver by an unknown and unregistered association, the Peace Movement Party (PMP) to destroy a legally registered political party that has already invested millions of naira and months of hard work into the 2027 election process.

“This is not justice; this is judicial sabotage,” Zuwoghe declared. “An association that does not exist, that is not registered, that is not participating in the 2027 elections, has been allowed to upturn a final judgment through a motion, not even a substantive appeal. This is unheard-of, illegal, and an outright assault on the rule of law.”

THE FACTS: A LEGALLY REGISTERED PARTY UNDER ATTACK

The NDC Chairman laid out a damning chronology that exposes the ruling as fundamentally flawed:

· December 2025: The Federal High Court upheld the NDC’s constitutional right to freedom of association and compelled INEC to register the party—which INEC did.
· Since then: The NDC has conducted ward-to-national congresses, held conventions, concluded primaries for all offices, and fully participated in INEC activities.
· Recent Elections: The NDC fielded candidates and participated in the just-concluded bye-elections in Nasarawa and Enugu states.
· 2027 Preparation: Candidates for House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, Governorship, Presidential, and Vice-Presidential positions have been duly nominated and are being submitted to INEC.

Yet one judge in Lokoja has now set aside all of this—on the application of an association that has not been active since 2015.

THE ABSURDITY: A 2015 CLAIM, AN UNREGISTERED PARTY, A BACK-DOOR MOTION

The statement exposes the sheer incredulity of the ruling:

The Peace Movement Party (PMP) claims it sought registration in 2015 with a “victory sign” symbol and was denied. That was ELEVEN years ago.

Since then, the PMP has done nothing. It is not a registered political party. It did not apply for registration in the current exercise. It is not participating in the 2027 elections. It did not appeal the December 2025 judgment when it had the opportunity. The window for any appeal has long since closed and is now statute-barred.

Yet today, Friday June 26, 2926 this ghost association was granted locus standi and jurisdiction to overturn a final judgment that affects a registered political party actively participating in Nigeria’s democracy.

“This is not law. This is a travesty,” Zuwoghe thundered. “They are using a motion not a substantive suit, not an appeal to achieve what they could not achieve through proper legal channels. This is the very definition of an abuse of court process.”

JUDICIAL OVERREACH: COURT HAD BECOME FUNCTUS OFFICIO

The NDC Chairman raised a fundamental legal point that calls the ruling into serious question:

The court that delivered the December 2025 judgment had become functus officio, meaning it had no further jurisdiction over the matter. The court had already dealt with all related issues concerning associations claiming the same symbol and colors.

There is no appeal against that judgment. It stands as final.

Yet His Lordship, Honourable Justice Isah Dashen, proceeded to set aside the court’s own earlier decision, to a move the NDC describes as procedurally impossible and legally untenable.

“How can a court set aside its own final judgment on a motion filed by a party that was not even before the court in the substantive matter?” Zuwoghe asked. “Where is the jurisdiction? Where is the propriety? This ruling cannot stand.”

DEMOCRATIC SPACE UNDER SIEGE

Beyond the legal technicalities, the NDC framed this ruling as part of a broader assault on Nigeria’s fragile democracy:

“We condemn efforts by those who seek to shrink the democratic space and stifle opposition voices and alternatives,” Zuwoghe declared.

The statement warned that Nigeria’s multi-party democracy is already midway into the 2027 election process with nominations, primaries, and campaigns well underway. Any attempt to derail this process through judicial manipulation is not only anti-democratic but fundamentally anti-Nigerian.

“It is too late for anyone to attempt to use the judiciary to derail or narrow Nigeria’s multi-party democratic space. Nigerians have a right to a full range of opinions, ideas, and alternatives. Political platforms and candidates should be allowed to participate in the 2027 general election process.”

NDC FIGHTS BACK: APPEAL IMMINENT

The NDC has made it crystal clear: they will not accept this ruling lying down.

“We have instructed our team of lawyers to immediately proceed to the Court of Appeal to challenge the jurisdiction and propriety of His Lordship’s order,” Zuwoghe announced.

The party insists that there was NO ORDER DIRECTING THEIR DEREGISTRATION, only an order setting aside the earlier judgment. The NDC remains a legally registered political party, and all its nominations remain valid.

“We assure the general public, and particularly our candidates at all levels, that our party is on course. The NDC has not been deregistered. We have no doubt that justice will be done.”

A MESSAGE TO THE PEOPLE: STAND FIRM

The NDC ended its statement with an impassioned call to Nigerians:

“We thank Nigerians for their support, and we thank all our candidates, members and supporters for their confidence and trust in the party. We assure them that all nominations made remain valid, that our platform is strong and legal, and that justice will be served.”

THE BOTTOM LINE

The NDC has drawn a line in the sand: this ruling is illegal, this ruling is anti-democratic, and this ruling will be challenged.

An unknown association from 2015 cannot be allowed to destroy a registered political party in 2026 through procedural fraud. The judiciary cannot be used as a weapon to shrink democratic space. And the NDC will fight to protect its existence, its candidates, and Nigeria’s multi-party democracy.

The battle for justice has just begun.