NDC Finalises Appeal Strategy as Obi, Dickson Rally Leaders After Court Registration Setback

ABUJA, Nigeria — The leadership of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has concluded a series of emergency strategy meetings involving its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, the party’s national leader, Seriake Dickson, members of its National Working Committee and other key stakeholders ahead of Monday’s appeal against a court ruling that nullified its registration.

The meetings came less than 48 hours after the Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, set aside its earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the NDC as a political party.

The decision has heightened political tensions, with opposition figures alleging that the ruling is part of an effort to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

A senior party official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly, said the NDC leadership had held back-to-back closed-door meetings to finalise its legal strategy before filing its appeal at the Court of Appeal.

According to the source, Obi, Dickson, the party’s national chairman, national secretary and other senior officials attended a strategy meeting on Saturday, while another emergency session was held on Sunday to fine-tune preparations for the legal challenge.

“We are still finalising our preparations ahead of Monday’s appeal. The party’s National Legal Adviser, Reuben Egwuaba, will play a key role, although the lead counsel has not yet been announced,” the source said.

The party’s National Secretary, Ikenna Enekweizu, confirmed that the appeal would be filed on Monday but declined to disclose the identity of the lawyer who would head the legal team.

He described the Lokoja judgment as unprecedented and lacking any legal foundation, insisting the party remained confident that the appellate court would overturn the decision.

“The court that delivered the ruling is not the highest court in the land. We have confidence that the judiciary remains the last hope of the common man, and we will pursue this appeal to its logical conclusion,” Enekweizu said.

He maintained that the ruling neither prevented the party nor its candidates from participating in the 2027 elections, expressing confidence that all NDC candidates, from the presidential ticket to state assembly aspirants, would appear on the ballot.

Kwankwaso Backs Party

Meanwhile, the National Leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, expressed confidence that the party would overcome its legal challenges after paying a courtesy visit to Dickson at his residence in Abuja on Sunday.

In a post on Facebook, Kwankwaso said the meeting formed part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the party’s unity and readiness for the 2027 elections.

“As true democrats, we remain committed to the rule of law and have absolute confidence in the judicial process. No temporary setback can weaken the spirit of a movement built on hope, justice and equity,” he said.

He urged party members and supporters to remain calm and focused despite the court ruling.

NDC Confident of Appeal

The National Chairman of the NDC, Moses Cleopas, said the party had anticipated legal and political obstacles and remained optimistic that the Court of Appeal would overturn the judgment.

“We have always expected challenges because we are now the main opposition party. Our legal team believes this ruling is an abuse of the judicial process, and we remain confident that justice will prevail,” Cleopas said.

Another senior party official disclosed that beyond the legal battle, the NDC had activated a nationwide public engagement campaign involving civil society organisations, professional groups and the media to build support for its position.

According to the official, the party plans to hold a series of press conferences and stakeholder engagements in the coming days.

Dickson Urges Members to Stay United

Speaking on a television programme on Sunday, Dickson dismissed speculation that the ruling had unsettled party candidates or prompted defections.

He assured members that the NDC remained on course and insisted all its candidates would participate in the 2027 elections.

“This is intended to distract us and shake our confidence, but our candidates remain steadfast. The NDC has not been deregistered, and our candidates will be on the ballot,” Dickson said.

He also ruled out any immediate move to petition the trial judge before the National Judicial Council, saying the party would instead pursue available legal remedies through the appellate courts.

Court Restored Parties to Previous Positions

The Federal High Court in Lokoja recently set aside its December 2025 judgment directing INEC to register the NDC after holding that the earlier decision was delivered without hearing all parties affected, particularly the Peace Movement Party, which claimed ownership of the disputed party logo.

The ruling restored the parties to the positions they occupied before the December 10, 2025 judgment, while INEC said it would await the Certified True Copy of the judgment before taking further action.

The NDC has emerged as one of Nigeria’s major opposition platforms following the defection of several prominent politicians, including Obi and Kwankwaso, ahead of the 2027 general election.

Senior Lawyers Weigh In

Senior Advocates of Nigeria who commented on the ruling said the NDC has a constitutional right to challenge the judgment before the Court of Appeal.

Senior Advocate Adedayo Adedeji said the judgment does not automatically prevent the party or its candidates from participating in future elections, noting that the appellate process remains available.

“The Federal High Court is not the final court. Every party adversely affected by its decision has a constitutional right to appeal,” he said.

Another Senior Advocate, Itse Sagay, expressed confidence that the Court of Appeal would hear the matter expeditiously because of its political significance.

He, however, cautioned that if the appellate court ultimately upheld the ruling, it could have serious implications for the party’s participation in the 2027 elections.

Senior Advocate Adelola Adedipe also argued that the latest judgment merely set aside the judicial order that facilitated the party’s registration and should not be interpreted as a final deregistration of the NDC.

According to him, the substantive suit remains pending, while the parties have been restored to their previous positions until the case is fully determined. He advised the party to pursue its appeal while contesting the substantive issues before the court.

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A Lagos-based journalist with a passion for disseminating factual information and a deep appreciation for good music, good food, movies, and beautiful cars. He hopes to travel the world someday, documenting its beauty and diverse cultures through his storytelling.