A Federal High Court in Lokoja on Friday issued an order derecognizing the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), a decision immediately rejected by the NDC Caucus in the House of Representatives. The lawmakers described the judgment as a "judicial coup against democracy" and accused the court of enabling a political plot to exclude the party from the 2027 elections. Hon. Afam Victor Ogene, leader of the NDC Caucus, stated the ruling was delivered despite the 90-day statutory window to challenge the party's registration having long expired. The Caucus emphasized that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the only body constitutionally empowered to handle party registration, was not the appellant in the case. It argued that the matter was improperly returned to the same court that previously ordered INEC to register the NDC, calling the move "forum shopping" and "lawfare." The lawmakers noted that no court can legally extinguish a political party through judicial fiat, citing a prior Court of Appeal ruling that reversed a similar de-registration of five parties. They pointed out that the timing of the order coincided with the day INEC was expected to open its portal for parties to upload candidates for the 2027 elections. The NDC Caucus accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of orchestrating the move to "muscle the opposition out" and reduce the 2027 vote to a "coronation" for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The Caucus vowed to challenge the decision through all legal avenues, including the Supreme Court, and urged NDC members to remain calm and resolute.

💡 NaijaBuzz Take

The NDC Caucus condemns a court order it says bypassed INEC and exploited judicial processes at a critical electoral moment. The ruling emerged the same day INEC was set to open candidate upload portals for the 2027 elections. The Caucus sees the timing as deliberate, aimed at disqualifying the party without engaging electoral channels. It plans to appeal, insisting the move undermines constitutional order.

💡 NaijaBuzz Take is AI-assisted editorial opinion, not established fact. Full disclaimer →