The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned a new legal challenge seeking to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) until July 7 for hearing.
Justice Mohammed Umar rescheduled the matter after counsel to the plaintiff, B.J. Akomolafe, requested time to respond to processes served by the NDC’s legal representative, Moses Achile.
The suit, filed on June 2 under the reference FHC/ABJ/CS/1115/2026 by Ahidjo Karlahi, the Protem Director of Organisation of the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), challenges the validity of the NDC’s registration.
Mr. Karlahi contends that the party failed to meet mandatory constitutional and statutory conditions prescribed under Sections 221-225A of the 1999 Constitution and Sections 75 and 79 of the Electoral Act, 2022.
In his filing, the plaintiff detailed several alleged procedural failures, asserting that “The NDC was not listed among the pre-qualified associations for formal application in the 2025 political parties’ registration exercise.”
He further claimed that “The NDC was not listed among those associations that paid the mandatory N2,000,000.00 administrative fee and received access codes to the INEC’s Application Portal for the 2025 registration exercise.”
Additionally, Mr. Karlahi argued that “The NDC did not access INEC’s dedicated Political Party Registration Portal during the 2025 registration exercise which is the only way to fill the Form EC15A.”
He maintained that “The NDC did not hence fill INEC’s mandatory form EC15A, which is the only valid means of formally applying for registration as a political party,” and concluded that “The NDC was not listed among the pre-qualified political associations published by INEC as having applied. These are not mere allegations – they are matters of public record.”
Mr. Karlahi is seeking a court declaration that the NDC’s registration is “unconstitutional, illegal, unlawful, ultra vires, null and void.”
His prayers to the court include a request to “Declare that the constitution does not permit an entity that never satisfied constitutional conditions for registration to be registered and to continue enjoying the status of a political party.”
He also asked the court to “Declare the continuing administrative recognition of the NDC by INEC as unconstitutional and unlawful,” “Set aside the continuing recognition of NDC’s Certificate of Registration issued by INEC,” and “Order INEC to halt its continuing recognition of NDC from its official register of political parties.”
Furthermore, he urged the court to “Forbid INEC from continuing to deal with NDC as a political party; restrain the NDC from continuing to parade itself or continuing to participate in any electoral activity as a registered political party.”
Addressing the intent behind the suit, Mr. Karlahi stated: “I believe that electoral integrity is the bedrock of constitutional democracy. If the process for registering political parties is compromised, the entire democratic edifice is at risk. This suit is my contribution to safeguarding that process.”
He added, “I call on all Nigerians – regardless of political affiliation, ethnicity, or religion – to understand, support and be patient as this matter proceeds through the judicial process.”
This development follows a recent decision by a Federal High Court in Lokoja, which set aside a previous judgment that had directed INEC to register the NDC.
Justice Isah Dashen ruled that the prior judgment was “constitutionally defective” as it was delivered without hearing from all necessary parties, including the Peace Movement Party. The NDC has vowed to appeal that decision.
