Obi, Dickson condemn NDC deregistration as anti-democratic setback ahead of 2027 polls
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, and Senator Henry Seriake Dickson condemned the Federal High Court’s decision to deregister the NDC, calling it illegal and anti-democratic. They made their positions known in separate posts on their X accounts yesterday, June 26, following Justice Isah Dashen’s ruling in Lokoja that set aside the court’s December 10, 2025 judgment directing INEC to register the party.
Dickson called the ruling "illegal and will not stand," arguing it lacks legal merit and aims to narrow democratic space. He said the NDC has assembled a legal team to challenge the judgment and urged members to remain calm while continuing political activities. Obi warned the ruling "represents another setback for our democracy" and could weaken public confidence in democratic institutions, urging Nigerians to protect institutional independence.
The ruling nullifies the NDC’s registration pending a fresh hearing after the Peace Movement Party (PMP) challenged the original judgment over logo ownership. This comes amid broader legal battles ahead of the 2027 general election—just last month, the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered deregistration of the ADC and four other parties for failing to meet vote thresholds, though the Court of Appeal suspended that ruling pending appeal.
With opposition parties facing legal hurdles months before national elections, will you view these court rulings as legitimate regulatory enforcement or politically motivated attempts to shape the 2027 electoral landscape?