By Ihechi Enyinnaya
The Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja, has set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court, Lokoja, which purported to order the deregistration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), the party’s national leader, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, has said.
In a post on his X handle, Senator Dickson said the appellate court, in a judgment delivered by the presiding Justice, Justice Mohammed Danjuma, and read by Justice Hassan, allowed the NDC’s appeal against the earlier ruling and set aside the judgment of Justice Isah Dashen.
He said the Court of Appeal’s decision had upheld the integrity of the Nigerian judiciary and expanded the sphere of multi-party democratic participation in Nigeria.
Sen. Dickson recalled that the NDC was established to expand the frontier of multi-party democracy in Nigeria, describing Justice Dashen’s judgment, delivered a few months ago, as “an unexpected assault” on the party’s constitutional right to participate and an attempt to narrow the democratic space.
“Today, by the decision of the Court of Appeal, the Nigerian democratic space has been protected, and the NDC’s right to participate in all political activities as a registered political party has been upheld,” he said.
He congratulated members and candidates of the party and thanked Nigerians for their prayers and support. He said the earlier judgment had attracted calls for sympathy, support and prayers, adding: “Today, our collective prayers have been answered.”
Mr Dickson said the NDC “continues to exist”, adding that its registration remained valid and subsisting and that its candidates would take part in all elections in 2027 and beyond.
He urged members to focus on the campaigns and preparations for the forthcoming elections, and to face the APC and defeat it at the polls. He warned that any resort to arm-twisting, inducing or intimidating the judiciary would not work.
“We remain confident in the strength of our message, the commitment of our members, the viability of our candidates, and the support of Nigerians,” he said.
“With this conviction, we look forward to the forthcoming elections and are confident that the NDC will emerge victorious at the polls, by the grace of God.”
He added that the fight for Nigeria’s multi-party democracy continued.
In June, the NDC rejected an order by the Federal High Court, Lokoja, setting aside an earlier judgment that compelled the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the party.
In a statement on Thursday, the national chairman of the NDC, Senator Moses Cleopas, said the party had instructed its lawyers to challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal.
He said the ruling followed an application filed by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which he described as an unregistered association unknown to the NDC.
The Court of Appeal’s decision has now set aside the Federal High Court judgment, according to Mr Dickson.