The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stated it is awaiting the Certified True Copy (CTC) of a Federal High Court judgment in Lokoja that overturned a previous order regarding the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

In a statement released on Saturday, Adedayo Oketola, the Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, acknowledged media reports surrounding the June 26 decision. However, he clarified that the commission cannot comment on the specifics of the ruling until its legal department thoroughly reviews the official court documents to determine the next course of action.

The announcement follows a ruling by Justice Isah Dashen, who set aside a December 10, 2025, judgment that had ordered INEC to register the NDC as a political party. The court determined that the initial ruling impacted the rights of the Peace Movement Party, which had not been joined in the original lawsuit despite claiming ownership of the logo used to secure the order. Consequently, the court ordered all parties to revert to their pre-December 2025 status and mandated a fresh hearing that includes all relevant stakeholders.

The NDC has rejected the ruling and announced intentions to appeal. NDC National Chairman Senator Moses Cleopas argued that the party remains registered and contended that the trial court lacked the jurisdiction to revisit a final judgment it had already delivered.

The decision has drawn criticism from prominent opposition figures, including NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi and National Leader Senator Henry Dickson. These stakeholders have expressed concern that the ruling threatens Nigeria's multiparty democratic system and have pledged to pursue further legal remedies. Meanwhile, INEC maintains that its formal position remains reserved until the certified court documents are obtained and analyzed.