The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to formally register the National Democratic Party as a political party.
The ruling was delivered by Justice Mohammed Umar on February 16, 2026, in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2796/2025.
The case was instituted by Hon. Ada Frederick Okwori, who leads the association, alongside three other applicants.
In his judgment, the court determined that the group had complied with all constitutional and statutory provisions required for political party registration.
These include the relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022, and the electoral body’s guidelines governing political associations seeking recognition.
Justice Umar held that once the stipulated conditions had been satisfied, the commission had a legal obligation to proceed with registration.
He affirmed that the association met every requirement necessary to attain full political party status.
The court also invalidated a letter dated December 18, 2025, through which the electoral commission had either declined or failed to approve the registration request.
The judge declared the correspondence null and without legal consequence.
As part of the orders issued, INEC was directed to register the party without delay and extend to it all the rights and privileges enjoyed by duly registered political parties.
This includes issuing a certificate of registration and other official documentation.
The court further ruled that should the commission fail to comply, the party would automatically be regarded as registered under the provisions of Section 75(4) of the Electoral Act 2022.
