NDC Legal Team Studying Court Ruling Voiding Party Registration — Obi’s Aide

The media aide to Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Idris Zekeri Jnr, has said the party’s legal team is reviewing the Federal High Court judgment that set aside the earlier ruling directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the NDC as a political party.

Zekeri disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja, assuring supporters that the party would pursue all available legal options to challenge the latest court decision.

He appealed to members, supporters and coalition partners to remain calm while legal experts examine the judgment and prepare the next course of action.

According to him, the party had received numerous enquiries following what he described as the “bizarre” ruling delivered by the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State.

“We have received the news of today’s bizarre ruling from the court in Lokoja regarding the legal status of the Nigeria Democratic Congress,” Zekeri said.

“While our legal teams are thoroughly reviewing the judgment to initiate immediate corrective and appellate measures, our Principal urges all our supporters, coalition partners, and patriots nationwide to remain absolutely calm and focused.”

The statement maintained that the party remained committed to its political objectives despite the setback, insisting that the latest development would not derail its plans.

Zekeri noted that the NDC had anticipated resistance in its efforts to challenge Nigeria’s existing political order, describing the ruling as part of the obstacles expected in the party’s journey.

He stressed that the judgment represented only a temporary setback and not the end of the party’s ambition to participate fully in the country’s democratic process.

The latest reaction follows Friday’s ruling by the Federal High Court in Lokoja, where Justice Isah Dashen nullified the court’s earlier judgment directing INEC to register the NDC.

The judge held that the previous ruling affected the rights of the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which claimed ownership of the logo adopted by the NDC but was not joined as a party in the original suit.

The court subsequently restored all parties to the positions they occupied before the earlier judgment and directed that all necessary parties be joined before the substantive matter is heard afresh.

The NDC has indicated that it will challenge the ruling through the appropriate legal channels.