INEC yet to receive CTC of judgment setting aside NDC registration

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has yet to receive the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Federal High Court judgment that set aside an earlier order directing the commission to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party.

Sources within the electoral commission disclosed on Saturday that although INEC is aware of Friday’s court ruling, it is still awaiting the official certified copy before taking any further action on the matter.

The Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State, had on Friday vacated its December 10, 2025 judgment which compelled INEC to register the NDC as a political party.

Delivering judgment in Suit No. FHC/LKJ/CS/49/2025, the presiding judge, Justice Isah Dashen, held that the earlier decision was constitutionally flawed because it was delivered without hearing all parties whose interests were directly affected by the case.

According to the court, the failure to join all necessary parties rendered the previous proceedings defective and inconsistent with the principles of fair hearing guaranteed under the Constitution.

The ruling followed an application filed by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which argued that it had a legitimate legal interest in the matter and should have been joined as a party before the court issued its December 2025 judgment.

Justice Dashen agreed with the applicant, holding that the omission of the PMP from the proceedings amounted to a denial of fair hearing.

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The judge further ruled that material facts relevant to the case were not disclosed during the earlier proceedings, a development that significantly affected the integrity of the judgment.

Consequently, the court set aside the December 10, 2025 judgment and ordered that the substantive suit commence afresh.

The court also directed that all parties with legal interests in the matter—including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and the Peace Movement Party (PMP)—be joined in the fresh proceedings to ensure a fair and comprehensive determination of the issues in dispute.

Officials familiar with developments at the electoral commission said INEC has taken note of the latest court decision but will await the Certified True Copy of the judgment before determining its next line of action.

The commission is expected to carefully study the court’s decision upon receipt of the certified document and act in accordance with the law.

The latest development effectively reopens the legal battle over the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, with the case now set for a fresh hearing involving all parties identified by the court as necessary for the proper adjudication of the dispute.