The 2027 presidential ambitions of Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso were dealt a new setback on Friday when a Federal High Court in Lokoja overturned its earlier decision directing the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, as a political party.
Justice Isah Dashen, who gave the finding, determined that the court’s previous decision had an impact on the rights of the Peace Movement Party, PMP, which claimed ownership of the NDC’s logo.
Despite the PMP’s claim to the disputed mark, the judge decided that it was not a party to the original litigation.
Remember that INEC registered the NDC in accordance with the same court’s ruling dated December 15, 2025.
According to C.S. Ekeocha, attorney for the PMP, the association sought the court after discovering that the NDC registration was based on a logo it had previously given to INEC before the case began.
According to the verdict, the case over the NDC’s registration will be heard again by the Federal High Court, with all necessary parties present.
The ruling has elicited strong comments from the NDC, opposition leaders, legal experts, and political analysts.
Opposition parties have warned that the development might have far-reaching consequences for Nigeria’s multiparty democracy ahead of the 2027 general election.