The Court of Appeal in Abuja has overturned the Federal High Court’s decision in Lokoja, Kogi State, which had ordered the deregistration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party.

In a split 2-1 judgment, a three-member panel of the appellate court upheld the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) recognition of the NDC and described the July 26 judgment of the lower court as perverse.

The majority judgment, delivered by Justice Mohammed Danjuma and Justice Muslim Sule Hassan, held that the Federal High Court had abused its powers and the judicial hierarchy by effectively sitting on appeal over its own earlier judgment delivered on December 10, 2025.

The earlier judgment had upheld INEC’s registration of the NDC as a political party.

The appellate court also rejected the dispute over the NDC’s logo, which an association operating under the aegis of the Peace Movement Party (PMP) had claimed belonged to it.

The majority justices held that the NDC’s appeal had merit and consequently allowed it.

However, Justice Okon Abang dissented, upholding the deregistration of the NDC.

In his dissenting judgment, Abang said he found no basis to fault the Federal High Court, which he held had acted in accordance with the principles of justice and fair hearing.

The Federal High Court in Lokoja, in a ruling delivered by Justice Isah Dashen, had voided its earlier order directing INEC to register the NDC.

The decision followed an application by the PMP, which argued that it had not been joined in the original proceedings despite having a legal interest in the matter.

Justice Dashen agreed with the applicant that all parties with vested interests in the case ought to have been given an opportunity to participate before the order directing INEC to register the NDC was made.

The court consequently ordered a fresh hearing of the case with all relevant parties properly joined.

Dissatisfied with the ruling, the NDC appealed to the Court of Appeal.

The party, which has already nominated candidates for the 2027 general elections, has now secured a majority judgment restoring the legal effect of INEC’s recognition of the party.