A Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja has withdrawn the legal recognition earlier granted to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), effectively removing the party from the register of recognised political parties in Nigeria.

The court, in a ruling delivered on Friday by Justice Isah Dashen in Suit No. FHC/LKJ/CS/49/2025, set aside its December 10, 2025 judgment, which had ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)  to recognise and register the NDC.

The court upheld an application by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which argued that it was a necessary party in the suit.

The judge further  held that failure to include the PMP amounted to a denial of fair hearing and rendered the previous judgment invalid.

Justice Dashen ordered that the parties return to the position they were in before the December 10, 2025 judgment, pending the fresh determination of the substantive case.

The judge also held that some material facts were not brought before it during the earlier proceedings, a development that contributed to the decision to set aside the judgment.

As a result, the court directed that the matter must start afresh with INEC, the Nigeria Democratic Congress and the Peace Movement Party as parties to the suit.