Peter Obi condemns Lokoja court ruling, describing it as a setback for Nigeria’s democracy after the Federal High Court nullified the NDC registration order

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has criticised the recent Federal High Court ruling in Lokoja that set aside an earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission to register the NDC, describing the decision as a significant setback for Nigeria’s democracy and its institutions.

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Obi made the remarks on Friday in a statement shared across his social media platforms after learning of the judgment while attending official engagements in Imo State.

According to the former Anambra State governor, he received news of the court’s decision while at Madonna University after visiting the School of Nursing Sciences in Emekuku and attending the 80th birthday celebration of the Emeritus Archbishop of Owerri, Most Rev. Dr Anthony Obinna.

“It was at Madonna University that I received the court news of the Lokoja court rulings through my brother, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso,” Obi said.

Reacting to the judgment, Obi urged Nigerians committed to democratic governance to reflect on its wider implications for the country’s political future.

“Every Nigerian committed to the country’s progress should be deeply concerned. This judgment represents another setback for our democracy and the institutions upon which our future depends,” he stated.

The NDC presidential candidate accused some political actors of weakening democratic institutions while publicly professing support for democratic values.

“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,” Obi said.

He also expressed concern over what he described as the growing erosion of institutional independence within both the legislature and the judiciary.

“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,” he added.

Obi stressed that his criticism was based on principle rather than political affiliation, recalling that he had taken a similar position when the African Democratic Congress faced what he considered a comparable challenge.

“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,” he said.

According to Obi, the priority should not be who emerges as Nigeria’s next president but whether the country’s democratic institutions remain strong enough to guarantee justice, accountability and equal opportunity.

“My concern is not about who becomes President. My concern is that Nigeria works. Our politics must move beyond the quest for power and focus instead on building a united nation founded on justice, strong institutions, the rule of law, and equal opportunity,” he stated.

He further called on Nigerians to put national interest above partisan considerations and defend the country’s democratic institutions.

“I therefore urge all well-meaning Nigerians to rise above partisan interests and defend our democracy. The survival of our institutions is inseparable from the survival of our nation,” Obi added.

The statement followed Friday’s ruling by Justice Isah Dashen of the Federal High Court in Lokoja, which set aside the court’s December 10, 2025 judgment directing INEC to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress as a political party.

Justice Dashen held that the earlier judgment affected the rights of the Peace Movement Party, which claimed ownership of the logo relied upon in obtaining the registration order but had not been joined as a party in the original proceedings.

Counsel for the applicant, C.S. Ekeocha, said the court ordered all parties to return to the position they occupied before the December 10, 2025 judgment and directed that all necessary parties be joined before the substantive suit is heard afresh.

According to Ekeocha, the ruling effectively nullifies actions taken by INEC pursuant to the earlier judgment, including the recognition of the NDC, the issuance of its certificate of registration, its inclusion in the commission’s official records and any appearance on ballot papers, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

The judgment has generated significant reactions from political stakeholders, with the NDC already announcing plans to challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal.

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The case is expected to test important legal questions surrounding political party registration, judicial procedure and the protection of the rights of interested parties as preparations for the 2027 general election gather momentum.