*Photo: Mr Peter Obi*
The 2027 presidential bid of Mr Peter Obi suffered a major setback on Friday, 26th June, 2026, as the Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, nullified its earlier judgment that compelled the Independent National Electoral Commissionm, (INEC ) to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Obi presidential candidate of the party and the nullification followed a case instituted by the Peace Movement Party, at the court, arguing that it had submitted the disputed party logo to INEC before the NDC’s case was decided and that its interests were affected without being heard.
Justice Isah Dashen ruled that the court’s December 10, 2025, judgment ordering INEC to recognise NDC as a political party adversely affected the rights of the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which was not joined as a party in the suit despite claiming ownership of the logo relied upon in obtaining the judgment.
Prior to this, Justice Dashen had ruled in NDC’s favour that INEC had failed to comply with the constitutional and statutory provisions governing party registration. The court ordered the commission to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress and issue it a certificate of registration.
Following the judgment, INEC recognised the NDC as a political party, issued it a certificate of registration and included it in its records.
With the court ruling on Friday, both the NDC and the PMP will have to return to status quo.
Rejecting the ruling, NDC in a statement on Friday by Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, its national chairman, instructed its legal team to appeal the decision at the Court of Appeal.
He said the challenge to the party’s registration was brought by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which he described as an unregistered group with no standing in the NDC.
He recalled that in December 2025, the Federal High Court had affirmed the party’s constitutional right to freedom of association and directed INEC to register the NDC.
Since that time, he said, the party has completed internal structures and processes: registering members, holding ward, local government, state and national congresses, conducting its national convention, and concluding primaries in line with INEC’s timetable.
He added that the NDC participated in recent by-elections in Nasarawa and Enugu states and has nominated candidates for all elective offices ahead of the 2027 general election.
“There was no order directing our deregistration. We assure the general public, and particularly our candidates at all levels, that our party is on course,” the statement reads.
“The NDC has not been deregistered, and we are challenging today’s order at the Court of Appeal as soon as possible. We have no doubt that justice will be done.”
The party said all nominations made on its platform remain valid while the appeal is pending.
The NDC argued that the federal high court became “functus officio” after handing down its final judgment in the case.
It said issues concerning its logo and symbol were already settled by the earlier ruling and were not the subject of any appeal.
The party also insisted that the Peace Movement Party is neither a registered political party nor an association involved in the current registration process.
“To now try to upturn that verdict through the back door, via a motion, is not only unheard-of, but also illegal and an outright abuse of court process,” the statement added.
The NDC accused unnamed actors of seeking to “shrink the democratic space and stifle opposition voices.”
“We condemn efforts by those who seek to shrink the democratic space and stifle opposition voices and alternatives,” the party said.
“Nigerians have a right to a full range of opinions, ideas, and alternatives, and political platforms and candidates should be allowed to participate in the 2027 general election process.”
The party expressed confidence that the court of appeal would overturn the ruling.
Similarly, Peter Obi described the judgment as another setback for our democracy and the institutions upon which our future depends.
According to him, Every Nigerian committed to the country’s progress should be deeply concerned.
“It is regrettable that some who claim to champion democracy now appear determined to weaken the very institutions that sustain it. In doing so, they are undermining public confidence and endangering the future of millions of Nigerians.
“The legislature and the judiciary are increasingly being drawn into this pattern of institutional decline. Democracy cannot thrive where institutions lose their independence and credibility.
“Those who seek to weaken Nigeria’s democratic foundations will not ultimately prevail. When a similar situation recently affected the ADC, I condemned it without hesitation. I do so again today because my position has always been guided by principle., Obi added.
Reacting, Idris Zekeri Jnr, spokesman of the Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR), said the court ruling was only a setback, urging Obi’s supporters to remain calm.
“We have received the news of today’s bizarre ruling from the court in Lokoja regarding the legal status of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). While our legal teams are thoroughly reviewing the judgment to initiate immediate corrective and appellate measures, our Principal urges all our supporters, coalition partners, and patriots nationwide to remain absolutely calm and focused,” the statement said.
“We always knew that the journey to dismantle a deeply entrenched and grossly underperforming political status quo would be met with fierce institutional resistance and unexpected legal detours.
“Today’s ruling is a hurdle, not a stop sign. Our commitment to providing a transparent, legitimate, and formidable alternative for Nigerians remains unshakeable. The platform we are building is robust, and our legal rights will be vigorously pursued. Do not be discouraged; the vehicle may face a temporary breakdown, but our destination remains non-negotiable.”