The Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, says it remains a legally registered political party, despite a recent court ruling that set aside an earlier judgment recognising it.

The clarification comes from the Zamfara State Chairman of the NDC, Alhaji Surajo Garba Mai Katako, following a Federal High Court ruling in Lokoja that vacated its December 10, 2025 judgment which had directed INEC to register the party.

Justice Isah Dashen ruled that the earlier judgment affected the rights of the Peace Movement Party, PMP, which claimed ownership of the logo the NDC used to get registered and was not joined in the suit. The court ordered all parties to return to the position before December 10, 2025, and said INEC must withdraw the NDC’s certificate, records, and any ballot appearance pending the final determination of the substantive case. The substantive suit itself has not been decided.

INEC had earlier registered the NDC in February 2026 as one of two new parties ahead of 2027. NDC National Leader, Sen. Seriake Dickson, has said there is “no appeal in any court against that decision” and that INEC “duly registered our party”. The party also maintains it is “free of legal encumbrances” and a “clean slate” with no internal crisis.

In Zamfara, the NDC has been gaining traction after former Senator Kabir Marafa defected from ADC to the party. Mai Katako, an ally of Marafa, emerged state chairman at a delegates’ congress monitored by INEC. He recently urged aggrieved aspirants from other parties to join NDC, saying it guarantees fairness.

The case is still in court, and a separate suit has also been filed asking INEC to deregister the NDC. For now, NDC leaders insist the party’s registration stands and it is preparing for 2027.

Source: Vanguard News, Daily Post, Legit.ng