Peter Obi’s Presidential Ambition Suffers Huge Setback Amid NDC Deregistration
The 2027 presidential ambition of Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso suffered a fresh setback on Friday after a Federal High Court in Lokoja set aside its earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, as a political party.
Naijaonpoint Nigeria earlier reported that Justice Isah Dashen, who delivered the ruling, held that the court’s earlier judgment affected the rights of the Peace Movement Party, PMP, which claimed ownership of the logo adopted by the NDC.
The judge ruled that the PMP was not joined as a party in the original suit despite its claim over the disputed logo.
Recall that the NDC was registered by INEC following the same court’s order issued on December 15, 2025.
According to counsel to the PMP, C.S. Ekeocha, the association approached the court after discovering that the NDC registration was based on a logo it had earlier submitted to INEC before the litigation commenced.
The ruling means the dispute over the registration of the NDC will return to the Federal High Court for a fresh hearing with all relevant parties participating.
The decision has since triggered widespread reactions from the NDC, opposition figures, legal experts and political commentators.
Opposition parties are warning that the development could have far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s multi-party democracy ahead of the 2027 general election.
NDC rejects judgment, heads to Appeal Court
The NDC leadership has swiftly rejected the judgement, insisting it has not been deregistered.
In a statement issued after the ruling, the party said it was surprised by the court’s decision to set aside its December 2025 judgment following an application by the PMP, an association it described as unregistered and unknown.
The party maintained that after the December 2025 judgment, INEC registered the NDC, enabling it to commence political activities, register members, conduct ward, state and national congresses, hold conventions and conclude primaries for elective offices in line with the electoral timetable.
The NDC argued that the Federal High Court had become “functus officio” after delivering its final judgment in the case against INEC and had already addressed issues relating to the party’s logo and colours.
It contended that the Peace Movement Party, which claims ownership of the victory sign adopted by the NDC, is neither a registered political party nor a participant in the registration process.
The party said it has instructed its legal team to immediately challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal, questioning both the jurisdiction of the court and the propriety of the decision.
“We assure the general public, and particularly our candidates at all levels, that our party is on course.
“The NDC has not been deregistered, and we are challenging today’s order at the Court of Appeal as soon as possible,” part of the statement read.
NDC deregistration won’t stand — Seriake Dickson
The national leader of the NDC, Seriake Dickson, also rejected the Federal High Court order, describing the ruling as illegal and vowing to challenge it through legal means.
Dickson said the court order lacked legal merit and was designed to undermine the credibility and progress of the NDC.
According to him, the ruling is a threat to Nigeria’s multi-party democracy and an attempt to shrink the country’s democratic space.
“All I can say is that the order lacks legal merit and is intended to affect the foundational credibility and efforts of our party. The order is illegal and will not stand.
“It is against multi-party democracy, anti-democratic in nature, and aimed at narrowing and stifling the democratic space. It will be resisted by all of us and by all lovers of democracy,” he said.
He disclosed that the party had assembled a team of lawyers to immediately challenge the ruling, urging members, supporters and candidates to remain calm and continue their political activities.
Dickson expressed confidence that the party would overcome the legal challenge, insisting that the ruling would not derail its preparations for future elections.
Forces working to stop my presidential ambition will fail — Peter Obi
Reacting to the development, the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, alleged that forces within the Federal Government were working to prevent him from appearing on the ballot in 2027.
Obi, who spoke at a leadership programme organised by the NextGen Mentorship and Leadership Initiative at Madonna University, Okija, Anambra State, also challenged President Bola Tinubu and other presidential hopefuls to a public debate, insisting he remained the most qualified among them.
Speaking specifically on Friday’s court ruling, Obi maintained that it would not stop his presidential ambition and urged his supporters to remain peaceful despite the legal setback.
He said: “They cannot stop me. They will fail. Let me assure you it is not the end of the road. We are committed to this democracy and those who want to kill this democracy are trying to hurt the society.
“The reactionary elements in Nigeria, those who are bent on holding Nigeria down do not want it to work but I can assure you it would work. I have confidence that I will pull through because the will of the people must prevail.
“No where is safe in Nigeria today, yet the people who should help salvage the country are bent on hurting our democracy. My message to all those who mean well for Nigeria and not just my supporters is for us to remain peaceful and continue to resist this tragedy being imposed on Nigeria.”
We’ll resist Tinubu’s one-party state — Obidient Movement
The Obidient Movement also condemned the court decision, vowing to resist what it described as attempts to turn Nigeria into a one-party state.
The Media and Communication Directorate of the movement said it had taken note of the contradictory judicial pronouncements concerning the NDC.
In a statement, the group argued that the latest development reinforced public concerns that the judiciary was increasingly being deployed as an instrument of partisan politics rather than an impartial arbiter.
“These developments only reinforce the growing public concern that the judiciary is being deployed as an instrument of partisan politics rather than an impartial guardian of justice.