A Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State, has set aside its earlier judgment that directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party.
Delivering the ruling on Friday, Justice Isah Dashen held that the earlier judgment was flawed because all parties affected by the case were not given an opportunity to be heard.
The court upheld an application filed by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which argued that its interests were affected by the registration process.
Justice Dashen ruled that the previous judgment delivered in December 2025 was null and void, ordering all parties to return to their positions before the judgment was issued.
The court further directed that the substantive suit be heard afresh, with INEC, the NDC and the PMP joined as parties in the case.
Counsel to the PMP, Chikezie Ekeocha, said the court agreed that the party's rights may have been affected, leading to the cancellation of the earlier ruling.
According to him, the decision means that all actions taken by INEC based on the previous judgment, including the recognition and registration of the NDC, are suspended pending the outcome of the fresh hearing.
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Politics