Seriake Dickson, national leader of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), says the party is under attack from external forces aggrieved by its rapid progress but will prevail.
Dickson is reacting to the judgement of the federal high court in Lokoja, Kogi state, that set aside an earlier order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the NDC as a political party.
The court vacated its December 10, 2025, judgement compelling INEC to register the NDC as a political party.
Delivering the ruling in the suit marked FHC/LKJ/CS/49/2025, Isah Dashen, the presiding judge, held that the earlier judgement was delivered without hearing all necessary parties, rendering the proceedings constitutionally defective.
According to NAN, the ruling followed an application by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which argued that it had a legal interest in the matter and ought to have been joined in the suit before the judgement was delivered.
The judge also held that material facts were not disclosed during the earlier proceedings and ordered that the substantive suit begin afresh with INEC, the PMP and the NDC joined as parties.
Dickson described the court order as lacking legal merit and was aimed at undermining the party’s progress.
“All I can say is that the order lacks legal merit and is intended to affect the foundational credibility and efforts of our party. The order is illegal and will not stand,” he said.
According to him, the ruling was “against multi-party democracy, anti-democratic in nature, and aimed at narrowing and stifling the democratic space.”
The NDC national chairman said the party had assembled a team of lawyers to challenge the ruling and urged members and supporters to remain calm.
The former Bayelsa governor alleged that the application that led to the ruling was filed by “an unregistered association” which, according to him, had no legal interest in the case.
“We are not naive to expect that the tremendous progress we have achieved in the last five months would go without attack,” he said.
“So, we know where this is coming from. It is coming from those who are shocked by the progress the NDC has made within such a short period as a result of our hard work and commitment to deepening multi-party democracy.
“We will not allow this to slow us down or break our spirit. The struggle must continue.”
He further accused the judge who gave the ruling of committing a legal error, saying the party would pursue all available judicial remedies.
“We will use appropriate judicial channels to correct the judicial anomaly that occurred under the watch of Honourable Justice Dashen. He has clearly erred in law, and we will take steps to correct it,” he said.
Dickson also sought to reassure supporters, insisting that the party remained on course despite the setback.
“We are under attack, as I have repeatedly said we should prepare for challenges such as this. But thereafter, we shall win,” he said.
He added that the ruling had triggered increased support for the party, claiming that “thousands of Nigerians” registered as NDC members in solidarity following the court decision.
“I sincerely thank Nigerians for the confidence they continue to repose in the NDC. Your support, encouragement, and belief in our vision only strengthen our resolve to continue the struggle to deepen multi-party democracy in Nigeria,” Dickson said.
Court judgement on NDC registration
Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC)
Seriake Dickson
