Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Isah Dashen ruled that all parties with an interest in the matter must be given the opportunity to be heard before any substantive decision can be reached.
The court upheld an application filed by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), agreeing that the party was a necessary party to the suit and should have been included in the earlier proceedings.
According to the judge, the previous judgment delivered on December 10, 2025, was constitutionally defective because it was made without hearing from all relevant parties.
The court also held that material facts were allegedly not disclosed during the earlier proceedings, making it necessary to vacate the order.
As a result, Justice Dashen ordered that the status quo before the December 2025 judgment be restored pending the determination of the substantive suit.
The ruling means the NDC party registration case will begin afresh, with INEC, the Peace Movement Party (PMP), and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) all participating as parties in the proceedings.
The legal dispute centres on issues relating to the party’s registration, including an alleged logo infringement raised during the court proceedings.
The latest ruling does not amount to a final determination on the registration status of the NDC.
Instead, it nullifies the earlier order that directed INEC to register the party and requires the matter to be heard again with all affected parties present.
Reports claiming that NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi and vice-presidential candidate Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso will automatically be excluded from the next general election remain speculative at this stage.
Their eligibility would depend on the eventual outcome of the fresh court proceedings and any subsequent legal developments.
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