Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division, has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the National Democratic Party (NDP) as a political party.
The order was delivered in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2796/2025, filed by Hon. Ada Frederick Okwori, the National Chairman of the NDP, alongside three other plaintiffs. The applicants had approached the court seeking a declaration that they had satisfied all constitutional and statutory requirements for registration as a political party.
In his judgment delivered on February 16, 2026, Justice Umar held that the plaintiffs had complied with the provisions of Sections 222–224 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), as well as Sections 75 and 79 of the Electoral Act 2022 and INEC’s 2022 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties.
The court declared that the political association, National Democratic Party (NDP), had fulfilled all legal conditions necessary for registration.
“A Declaration is hereby made that the Plaintiffs have met all the requirements of Sections 222 – 224 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), Sections 75 and 79 of the Electoral Act 2022, and the Defendant’s Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties 2022,” Justice Umar ruled.
The court further held that having satisfied the stipulated legal requirements, INEC has a statutory duty to register the NDP as a political party.
The judgment is expected to have significant implications for Nigeria’s political landscape, potentially expanding the number of registered political parties ahead of future electoral activities.
