EXCLUSIVE: No Going Back – Why INEC Cannot Reverse NDC’s ‘Court Order’ Leadership (Full Story)

For weeks, political observers and rival parties have raised eyebrows at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) website, where the leadership of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) is boldly displayed with the caveat: “BY COURT ORDER.”

Whispers of illegitimacy, rumors of an impending takeover by the APC, and fears of INEC backtracking have swirled in the national discourse.

But after a thorough investigation by Ejes Gist News, involving a deep dive into a landmark Federal High Court judgment, we can reveal that the NDC’s leadership is not just legal—it is virtually untouchable.

Here is the untold story of how a “mushroom party” from 2017 defeated Nigeria’s electoral umpire in a legal marathon that ended in 2025.

The Genesis: A Logo, A Brouhaha, and a Bully

The journey of the NDC did not start today. Back in 2017, under the watch of former INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, a group led by Seriake Dickson began the rigorous process of registering a new political party.

They succeeded. The NDC was born.

But trouble began immediately over their chosen logo: Two fingers in the air ✌️—the universal sign for Peace.

Despite the APC (which uses a broom) filing no complaint, INEC took it upon itself to declare war on the tiny party. INEC argued that the peace sign bore a “resemblance” to the APC’s broom.

Sources within the NDC told Ejes Gist News that the commission issued an ultimatum: Change your logo or we will delegitimize you. We will not recognize you as a political party.

“We were small. We had no political presence. INEC thought they could push us around for nothing,” a founding member of the NDC, who pleaded anonymity, told our correspondent.

The Confusion: Why Was INEC Fighting for APC?

The NDC leadership was bewildered. They wrote to INEC, explaining that a peace sign (two fingers) has no visual or philosophical semblance to a broom.

But INEC refused to see reason.

Instead, the commission enforced its threat. They refused to recognize the NDC, refused to acknowledge its leadership, and effectively locked the party out of the political space.

“We asked ourselves: Why is INEC crying more than the bereaved? The APC never complained. This was purely INEC’s fight,” the source added.

The Legal Showdown: NDC vs. INEC

Left with no other option, the NDC headed to the Federal High Court. They sued INEC over three things:

1. The illegal demand to change their logo.

2. The act of delegitimizing the party.

3. The refusal to recognize the party’s leadership.

The case dragged on for years. But in 2025, justice finally prevailed.

The Federal High Court delivered a sweeping judgment in favor of the NDC, ruling that the party had proven beyond reasonable doubt that the peace sign does not resemble the APC’s broom.

The Indisputable Order

The court did not stop at declaring the logo legal. The judge went further to issue a mandatory order directing INEC to:

• Recognize the NDC as a political party.
• Accept the ✌️ logo as valid.
• Recognize the NDC’s leadership immediately.

That is why, today, when you visit INEC’s website, you see those names. That is why you see the words “BY COURT ORDER.”

Why No One Can Challenge It Now

Here comes the critical legal twist that every Nigerian political commentator must understand.

The only party with the legal right to challenge that judgment is INEC. Not the APC. Not the Attorney General of the Federation. Not any civil society group. Only INEC.

Furthermore, the legally approved window for INEC to appeal the judgment has elapsed.

An INEC insider who spoke with Ejes Gist News confirmed that the commission, now under the new leadership of Prof. Amupitan, made a strategic decision not to appeal. Instead, they chose to obey the court and enforce the judgment.

 

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“Once a judgment is entered and the appellant timeframe (usually 90 days) passes without an appeal, the matter is res judicata. [It is settled]. INEC cannot wake up tomorrow and vacate that order. The court has spoken. INEC has complied. It is over,” a Lagos-based constitutional lawyer explained to Ejes Gist News.

The Verdict: No Cause for Alarm

Therefore, Ejes Gist News can authoritatively state that there is no cause for alarm over the NDC’s leadership status.

• INEC cannot appeal again.
• INEC cannot vacate the order.
• No third party (APC or AGF) has the locus standi to challenge it.

The NDC weathered the storm. From a small, bullied party in 2017 to a legally fortified political entity in 2025, their leadership stands on the unshakable bedrock of a final court order.

The drama is over. The law is clear. The peace sign remains.

Stay tuned to Ejes Gist News for the deepest political analysis in Nigeria