The National Secretary of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Ikenna Enekweizu, has alleged that political opponents are attempting to prevent the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, from appearing on the ballot in the 2027 general elections because they fear electoral defeat.
Enekweizu made the allegation while reacting to the recent judgment of the Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, which set aside an earlier ruling directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the NDC as a political party.
According to him, despite the court’s latest decision, the party remains confident that justice will prevail, insisting that Nigerians would not allow democratic rights to be undermined.
He argued that the actions being taken against the party were politically motivated and intended to frustrate its participation in the next general election.
Enekweizu maintained that the NDC had not been deregistered, stressing that the judgment did not contain any order removing the party from Nigeria’s list of recognised political parties.
He also dismissed suggestions that the party would be required to begin a fresh legal process over its registration.
According to the NDC national secretary, the party would not return to square one because it believes the issues raised in the judgment would be challenged through the appropriate legal channels.
The controversy follows a ruling delivered on Friday by Justice Isah Dashen of the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja.
The judge set aside the court’s earlier judgment of December 10, 2025, which had directed INEC to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress as a political party.
Justice Dashen held that the previous judgment adversely affected the interests of the Peace Movement Party (PMP), an association that claimed ownership of the logo relied upon by the NDC during the registration process.
According to the court, the PMP was not joined as a party in the original suit despite its interest in the disputed logo.
The judge therefore ruled that the earlier decision should be vacated and ordered that the parties return to the position they occupied before the December 2025 judgment.
The ruling effectively nullified all actions taken pursuant to the earlier court order that compelled INEC to register the NDC.
Despite the setback, the NDC leadership insists that its legal team will challenge the judgment at the Court of Appeal while continuing its political activities.
The party maintains that the decision does not amount to deregistration and has reassured its members and supporters that it remains committed to participating in the 2027 electoral process.
