The Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja has ruled in favor of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately register the association as a political party.
The landmark judgment puts an end to a legal battle sparked by INEC’s refusal to register the NDC over concerns regarding its official logo.
The controversy began when INEC declined the NDC’s application for registration as a political party. The electoral umpire had argued that the NDC’s proposed “two-finger” symbol was too similar to the broom logo of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), suggesting it could cause confusion among voters.
Displeased with the decision, the NDC approached the Federal High Court to challenge INEC’s rejection, describing it as arbitrary and an infraction on its members’ rights.
The Court’s Ruling
In its judgment, the Federal High Court overruled INEC’s objection. The presiding judge declared that the two logos were distinctly different and could not be reasonably confused.
Furthermore, the court held that INEC’s refusal to register the party on those grounds constituted a violation of the constitutional right to freedom of association, as guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
Consequently, the court issued a mandatory order directing INEC to recognize and register the NDC without further delay.
INEC Complies, NDC Officially Recognized
Following the court’s directive, INEC did not file an appeal within the legally permitted timeframe, making the High Court’s decision final.
The electoral commission has since complied with the court order, officially registering the NDC and issuing its certificate of registration. With this development, the NDC has joined the ranks of Nigeria’s officially recognized political parties, clearing the path for the party to field candidates in upcoming elections.
