Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has strongly condemned a ruling by the Federal High Court in Lokoja that set aside its earlier December 2025 judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the party.
Presided over by Honourable Justice Isah Dashen, the court on Friday vacated the prior order following an application by an unregistered association, the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which claimed interest in the logo adopted by the NDC. The judge held that the earlier judgment was constitutionally defective for failing to join all necessary parties and ordered a fresh hearing with INEC, the PMP, and the NDC joined as parties, while restoring the status quo ante.
In a statement issued this evening, Senator Dickson described the order as lacking legal merit and intended to undermine the party’s foundational credibility and efforts.
“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. It is against multi-party democracy, anti-democratic in nature, and aimed at narrowing and stifling the democratic space. It will be resisted by all of us and by all lovers of democracy in Nigeria,” he said.
Dickson revealed that the NDC has assembled its team of lawyers, who are already taking steps to set the order aside and restore normalcy. He urged all members, supporters, and candidates to remain calm and continue their normal political activities, framing the development as “only the first test of our commitment and resilience, both of which are not in doubt.”
“Even this shall pass, and the NDC and all our candidates shall cruise to victory,” he added.
The NDC leader expressed surprise that the challenge came from “a very unlikely source” — an unregistered association that is not a registered political party and has no exclusive right to any logo under the law. He argued that the association “was not a necessary party to the suit because it had no interest in the subject matter. It did not apply for registration in 2025, it was not one of the 171 associations that applied, nor was it among the 21 associations shortlisted for registration.”
Dickson said the party was “not naive to expect that the tremendous progress we have achieved in the last five months would go without attack,” but noted that “this particular development came from a very unlikely source.” He attributed it to “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 declared. The Senator said the NDC would use appropriate judicial channels to correct what he called “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 encouraged candidates, supporters, and voters across the country and beyond to “hold on firmly and keep the faith,” stating that the development shows the party’s efforts “have not gone unnoticed.”
Referring to his favourite quote on struggles, Dickson said: “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they attack you, then you win.”
“We are under attack, as I have repeatedly said we should prepare for challenges such as this. But thereafter, we shall win,” he added.
In a show of solidarity, Dickson disclosed that thousands of Nigerians across the country registered as NDC members today “to show their solidarity, sympathy and support for our party.”
“All things work together for good. Men may act with evil intentions, but if it is not the will of God, He turns it around for our good,” he said.
He expressed sincere gratitude to Nigerians for their continued confidence in the NDC, noting that their support, encouragement, and belief in the party’s vision “only strengthen our resolve to continue the struggle to deepen multi-party democracy in Nigeria.”
