The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has criticised the recent judgment of the Federal High Court in Lokoja, describing it as another setback for Nigeria’s democracy and warning that it could further weaken the country’s democratic institutions.
Obi made his position known in a statement shared on his social media platforms on Friday after learning of the court’s decision while attending official engagements in Imo State.
The former Anambra State governor said the ruling should worry every Nigerian who believes in democratic governance and the rule of law, regardless of political affiliation.
According to Obi, he received news of the judgment while visiting Madonna University after earlier attending the 80th birthday celebration of the Emeritus Archbishop of Owerri, Most Rev. Dr. Anthony Obinna, and visiting the School of Nursing Sciences in Emekuku.
He disclosed that it was former Kano State Governor and political leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who informed him of the court’s decision.
“It was at Madonna University that I received the court news of the Lokoja court rulings through my brother, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso,” Obi said.
Reacting to the development, Obi expressed concern over what he described as the growing weakening of democratic institutions in Nigeria.
According to him, every Nigerian who desires the country’s progress should be deeply concerned about the implications of the judgment.
“Every Nigerian committed to the country’s progress should be deeply concerned. This judgment represents another setback for our democracy and the institutions upon which our future depends,” he stated.
The NDC presidential candidate accused some political actors of working against the very institutions they publicly claim to support.
He said democracy cannot survive when institutions established to protect justice, fairness and accountability gradually lose their independence.
“It is regrettable that some who claim to champion democracy now appear determined to weaken the very institutions that sustain it. In doing so, they are undermining public confidence and endangering the future of millions of Nigerians,” Obi said.
He also expressed concern about what he described as the declining independence of both the legislature and the judiciary.
According to him, these key democratic institutions are increasingly being drawn into actions that could damage public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic system.
“The legislature and the judiciary are increasingly being drawn into this pattern of institutional decline. Democracy cannot thrive where institutions lose their independence and credibility,” he added.
Obi maintained that his criticism was not motivated by personal political interest but by his commitment to strengthening democratic institutions.
He recalled that he had previously condemned what he described as similar actions involving the African Democratic Congress (ADC), insisting that his position has remained consistent regardless of the political party involved.
“Those who seek to weaken Nigeria’s democratic foundations will not ultimately prevail. When a similar situation recently affected the ADC, I condemned it without hesitation. I do so again today because my position has always been guided by principle,” he stated.
The former governor stressed that his interest goes beyond who eventually occupies political offices.
According to him, his greatest concern is to see Nigeria become a country where institutions function independently, the rule of law is respected and citizens enjoy equal opportunities.
“My concern is not about who becomes President. My concern is that Nigeria works. Our politics must move beyond the quest for power and focus instead on building a united nation founded on justice, strong institutions, the rule of law, and equal opportunity,” Obi said.
He called on Nigerians to put national interest above political differences and defend democratic institutions.
According to him, the future of the country depends on the survival and credibility of its institutions.
“I therefore urge all well-meaning Nigerians to rise above partisan interests and defend our democracy. The survival of our institutions is inseparable from the survival of our nation,” he added.
Obi’s reaction followed Friday’s ruling by Justice Isah Dashen of the Federal High Court in Lokoja, who set aside the court’s earlier judgment delivered on December 10, 2025, directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress as a political party.
In his ruling, Justice Dashen held that the earlier judgment affected the legal rights of the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which claimed ownership of the logo relied upon by the NDC in securing its registration order.
The judge noted that the Peace Movement Party was not joined as a party in the original suit despite its interest in the matter.
The court consequently ordered that all parties be restored to the position they occupied before the December 10, 2025 judgment.
The judge also directed that all interested parties should be joined before the substantive case is heard afresh.
Following the ruling, counsel to the Peace Movement Party, C.S. Ekeocha, explained that the decision effectively reversed all actions taken by INEC based on the earlier judgment.
According to him, the ruling nullified the commission’s recognition of the NDC, the issuance of its certificate of registration, its inclusion in INEC’s official records and any appearance of the party on ballot papers pending the final determination of the substantive suit.
The judgment has generated widespread reactions because it comes at a time when political parties are intensifying preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The NDC had earlier insisted that it remained a registered political party despite the ruling and announced plans to challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal.
The party argued that the latest judgment did not expressly order its deregistration and maintained that it would continue pursuing legal remedies to protect its status.
The legal dispute centres largely on the ownership of the party’s logo and whether all interested parties were properly included in the original suit that led to the court order compelling INEC to register the NDC.
As the legal battle moves to the appellate court, attention is expected to focus on whether the earlier registration of the NDC will ultimately stand and what the ruling could mean for Nigeria’s democratic process and electoral system.