The media office of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has described the Lokoja High Court judgment regarding the party’s registration status as a temporary setback, saying the decision will be challenged legally.

This is contained in a statement by the Peter Obi Media Reach, POMR, signed by its spokesperson, Idris Zekeri Jnr, on Friday.

POMR noted that it has been flooded with inquiries from journalists and concerned Nigerians following the decision.

The media office urged Obi’s followers, political partners, and the general public to stay calm while the legal team finishes reviewing the judgment and prepares to file an appeal.

It maintained that it fully expected to face systemic hurdles in the ongoing bid to challenge the political establishment, viewing the court’s decision as a brief obstacle rather than a permanent defeat for its political objectives.

“We have received the news of today’s bizarre ruling from the court in Lokoja regarding the legal status of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC.

“While our legal teams are thoroughly reviewing the judgment to initiate immediate corrective and appellate measures, our Principal urges all our supporters, coalition partners, and patriots nationwide to remain absolutely calm and focused,” the statement said.

According to the group, the legal decision would not change the ultimate goal of establishing an alternative political platform for Nigerians.

The Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, has rejected Friday’s ruling of the Federal High Court in Lokoja setting aside the earlier judgment that compelled the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to register it as a political party.

The party on insisted it has not been deregistered.

In a statement issued after the ruling, the party said it was surprised by the court’s decision to set aside its December 2025 judgment following an application by the Peace Movement Party, PMP, an association it described as unregistered and unknown to the NDC.

The party maintained that after the December 2025 judgment, INEC registered the NDC, enabling it to commence political activities, register members, conduct ward, state and national congresses, hold conventions and conclude primaries for elective offices in line with the electoral timetable.

According to the NDC, it also fielded candidates in the recent bye-elections in Nasarawa and Enugu states and has nominated candidates for the House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, governorship, presidential and vice-presidential elections.

The party argued that the Federal High Court had become ‘functus officio’ after delivering its final judgment in the case against INEC and had already addressed issues relating to the party’s logo and colours.

It contended that the Peace Movement Party, which claimed ownership of the victory sign adopted by the NDC, was neither a registered political party nor participating in the current registration process.

The NDC further stated that the court’s latest ruling did not expressly order its deregistration, contrary to reports suggesting otherwise.

The party said it has instructed its legal team to immediately challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal, questioning both the jurisdiction of the court and the propriety of the decision.

“We assure the general public, and particularly our candidates at all levels, that our party is on course. The NDC has not been deregistered, and we are challenging today’s order at the Court of Appeal as soon as possible,” the statement read.

The party also accused unnamed individuals of attempting to shrink Nigeria’s democratic space and suppress opposition voices ahead of the 2027 general elections.

DAILY POST reported that Justice Isah Dashen of the Federal High Court in Lokoja on Friday set aside the court’s earlier judgment directing INEC to register the NDC.

The judge held that the earlier judgment affected the rights of the Peace Movement Party, which claimed ownership of the logo adopted by the NDC but was not joined as a party in the suit.

Counsel to the PMP, C.S. Ekeocha, said the ruling restored all parties to the position they occupied before the December 10, 2025 judgment and reversed all actions taken by INEC pursuant to that judgment, including the recognition and registration of the NDC, pending the final determination of the suit.

Paul Ibe, an aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has urged opposition leaders, including Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, to unite ahead of the 2027 election following a Federal High Court ruling that set aside its earlier judgment directing the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, as a political party.

In a post on X on Friday, the aide described the Lokoja court’s decision as a “wake-up call” for the opposition, alleging that President Bola Tinubu was pursuing a de facto one-party state.

He claimed the ruling signalled that there was “no hiding place for the opposition” and accused the President of seeking to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 election.

Ibe further alleged that Tinubu intended to “obliterate the opposition” if allowed to have his way politically, and warned that Nigeria’s democracy was under threat.

He, however, said it was not too late for opposition parties to harmonise their strengths ahead of the 2027 elections, urging leaders such as Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso and others to work together if they hoped to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

Ibe wrote: “The decision of the Federal High Court Lokoja in settting aside its earlier judgement on the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) should be a wake-up call that there is no hiding place for the opposition as the incompetent and clueless Tinubu @officialABAT  sets his sights on enthroning a de facto one-party state.

“His message is loud and clear: that he will obliterate the opposition and destroy our hard-won democracy if he does not have his way in the 2027 election. It is not too late for the opposition to harmonize their strengths ahead of 2027 if the Yar’Adua 2.0 President Tinubu is to be retired to either Bourdillon or Iragbiji!”

DAILY POST reported Friday’s ruling by the Federal High Court in Lokoja, where Justice Isah Dashen set aside the court’s earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to register the NDC.

The judge held that the earlier judgment affected the rights of the Peace Movement Party, PMP, which claimed ownership of the logo adopted by the NDC but was not joined as a party in the suit.

Counsel to the Peace Movement Party, C.S. Ekeocha, said the ruling restored all parties to the position they occupied before the December 10, 2025 judgment and directed that all necessary parties be joined before the substantive case is heard afresh.

He added that all actions taken by INEC pursuant to the earlier judgment, including the recognition and registration of the NDC, have been reversed pending the final determination of the suit.