A senior Nigerian lawyer has warned political supporters not to rush to conclusions over the NDC court judgment as INEC waits for the Certified True Copy of the ruling. The case affects the Nigeria Democratic Congress, opposition figures and voters because it could shape the party’s registration dispute and future political participation.
The Independent National Electoral Commission said it is aware of reports about the Federal High Court judgment delivered in Lokoja on Friday, June 26, 2026.
But the commission said it has not yet received the Certified True Copy, also known as the CTC, and cannot take a final position until its legal department studies the document.
The ruling set aside an earlier judgment of December 10, 2025, which had directed INEC to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress as a political party.
The latest decision has caused concern among NDC supporters and opposition figures. But a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who spoke anonymously, said the public should wait for the full written judgment before drawing firm conclusions.
He said: “In a matter of this nature, it is unsafe to rely only on oral reports or summaries from court. The proper legal step is to obtain the Certified True Copy of the judgment and study the exact orders made by the court.”
Why the NDC court judgment matters
The dispute is important because political party registration affects elections, ballot access and the rights of citizens to organise under a political platform.
If a party is recognised by INEC, it can take part in elections, field candidates and operate as a registered political party. If its registration is disputed, its legal status can affect campaign planning, supporters, candidates and voters.
That is why the Lokoja judgment has attracted wide attention.
The senior lawyer said the CTC is the most important document at this stage because it contains the exact orders made by the court, the legal issues considered and the reasons behind the decision.
He warned that media reports or political statements may not give the full legal picture.
He said: “The CTC will determine the true legal position. Until then, any strong conclusion may be premature.”
According to him, if the court only set aside the earlier judgment and ordered a fresh hearing, that would not automatically mean the dispute over the NDC’s registration has been finally settled.
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He explained that affected parties may still have legal options. These may include obeying the new order, returning to court for the fresh hearing, or appealing if they believe the decision was wrong.
The main legal issue appears to centre on whether all necessary parties were properly heard before the earlier judgment was delivered.
The Peace Movement Party had argued that its rights were affected by the December 2025 judgment because it was not joined in the case, despite claiming ownership of the logo connected to the dispute.
The Federal High Court consequently directed that all parties return to the positions they occupied before the December 2025 judgment. It also ordered a fresh hearing of the substantive case with all necessary parties joined.
This means the matter is still legally active.
INEC has also adopted a cautious position.
In a statement through Adedayo Oketola, Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, the commission said: “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) 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.”
INEC said it would act only after its legal department receives and studies the certified judgment.
The commission added: “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.”
The NDC has rejected the ruling and said it plans to challenge it at the Court of Appeal.
The party’s National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas, maintained that the NDC had not been deregistered. He also argued that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to revisit a matter on which it had already delivered a final judgment.
The development has drawn reaction from opposition figures and stakeholders, including Peter Obi, Senator Henry Dickson and others, who have described the ruling as a concern for Nigeria’s multiparty democracy.
However, the senior lawyer, who spoke anonymously to New Daily Prime, urged supporters and politicians to avoid making statements that could mislead the public.
He said court decisions should be read carefully before political meanings are attached to them.
That warning is important because the public debate has moved quickly, with some supporters treating the judgment as a final blow to the party while others insist it changes nothing.
The safer legal position is that the full effect of the ruling will become clearer when the CTC is released and reviewed by INEC, the NDC and other parties involved in the case.
For now, INEC has not announced any final decision on the NDC. The commission says it is waiting for the certified court order before taking its next lawful step.
The NDC and other affected parties are also expected to decide whether to continue with the fresh hearing, pursue an appeal, or take other legal steps available under Nigerian law.
Readers should treat strong claims about the party’s final status with caution until the Certified True Copy is released and INEC issues its formal position.
