A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the National Democratic Party (NDP) as a political party.
The judgment was delivered on February 16, 2026, by Justice M. G. Umar in a suit filed by Hon. Ada Frederick Okwori and others against INEC. The case was instituted on December 29, 2025.
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In the certified true copy of the judgment obtained on Thursday, the court ruled that the NDP met all the requirements outlined in Sections 222–224 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Sections 75 and 79 of the Electoral Act 2022, as well as INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties 2022.
Justice Umar held that the plaintiffs had fully complied with all constitutional and statutory conditions necessary for registration and were therefore qualified to be registered as a political party.
The court further ruled that INEC has a statutory obligation to register the National Democratic Party once those requirements are met.
In addition, Justice Umar nullified INEC’s letter dated December 18, 2025, with reference number INEC/DEPM/AFR/979/1/144, which rejected the party’s application. The court described the letter as null, void, and of no legal effect.
Consequently, the court issued a mandatory order compelling INEC to immediately register the National Democratic Party.