Obi’s Presidential Ambition In Jeopardy As Court De-recognises NDC As Political Party

By Rotela Oguns

It appears a hurdle has been placed on the path of, Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) towards realizing his ambition of gunning for highest political seat in the country.

This is as a Federal High Court in Lokoja set aside its earlier judgment which compelled the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party.

Six months after its earlier ruling, the court, through presiding judge, Isah Dashen, has made a volte-face on its position.

While delivering his ruling, Dashen in a suit marked FHC/LKJ/CS/49/2025, held that the December 10, 2025, judgment was reached without hearing all necessary parties, rendering the proceedings constitutionally defective.

According to NAN, the ruling followed an application by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which argued that it had a legal interest in the case and should have been made a party before the court delivered judgment.

Dashen agreed, holding that the applicant had established sufficient interest to be a party in the proceedings.

The judge said the omission rendered the entire process null and void.

He also held that material facts were not disclosed during the earlier proceedings, making it necessary to vacate the previous order.

Consequently, he ordered that the status quo be restored to what it was before the December 2025 judgment, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

The court also ordered that the substantive suit begin afresh, with INEC, the PMP and the NDC joined as parties.

On February 5, 2026, Joash Amupitan, INEC chairman, said “only two” out of the eight “qualified for final assessment and verification of due compliance with the constitution and the Electoral Act”.

Despite not being part of the pre-qualified associations, the NDC was also registered by INEC.

“The Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi state, in suit No. FHC/LKJ/CS/49/2025 between Barr Takori Mohammed Sanni & Ors v. INEC ordered the commission to register Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party,” Amupitan said.