The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will not take a position on the recent Federal High Court judgment concerning the National Democratic Congress (NDC) until it receives and reviews the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the ruling.
The commission disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday by the Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, following reports that the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja had set aside its earlier judgment directing the registration of the NDC as a political party.
According to Oketola, although the commission is aware of reports on the court’s decision delivered on June 26, it has yet to receive the certified copy of the judgment and cannot comment on the substance of the ruling.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission is aware of reports circulating in the media regarding the judgment delivered on Friday, June 26, 2026, by the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, which set aside an earlier order concerning the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress.
“However, as of this moment, the Commission has not yet received the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the court’s order,” the statement said.
He explained that the commission’s legal department would study the judgment upon receipt of the CTC before advising on the appropriate legal and administrative steps.
“Once the Commission’s legal department receives and thoroughly studies the CTC of the judgment, INEC will take an informed, lawful decision in line with the court’s directives.
“Until then, we cannot comment on the specifics of the ruling, and the public is urged to await the Commission’s formal position on the matter,” Oketola added.
Justice Isah Dashen of the Federal High Court, Lokoja, had on Friday nullified the court’s earlier judgment of December 10, 2025, which directed INEC to register the NDC as a political party.
The judge held that the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which claimed ownership of the logo used in the registration process, was not joined in the original suit despite its interest in the matter. The court subsequently ordered all parties to return to the positions they occupied before the December 2025 judgment and directed that the substantive case be heard afresh with all necessary parties joined.
The ruling has since sparked reactions from the NDC and several opposition figures. The party rejected the judgment and announced plans to challenge it at the Court of Appeal.
National Chairman of the NDC, Senator Moses Cleopas, argued that the party had not been deregistered and maintained that the trial court lacked the jurisdiction to revisit a matter on which it had already delivered a final judgment.
Other opposition leaders, including the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and National Leader, Senator Henry Dickson, also criticised the ruling, describing it as a setback for Nigeria’s multi-party democracy while pledging to explore all available legal options.
INEC, however, said it would reserve further comments until its legal team receives and examines the Certified True Copy of the judgment.
