Court of Appeal Sets Aside Judgment Deregistering NDC, Says Dickson
Henry Seriake Dickson has announced that the Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja, has set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court, Lokoja, which purported to order the deregistration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
In a statement posted on X addressed to fellow party members and Nigerians, Dickson said: “Today, the Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja, has set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court, Lokoja, delivered by Justice Isah Dashen a few months ago, which purported to order the deregistration of our party, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).”
He said the Court of Appeal ruled in favour of allowing the NDC’s appeal, which challenged the ruling of the Federal High Court, Lokoja. According to Dickson, the judgment was delivered by the presiding Justice, Justice Mohammed Danjuma, and read by Justice Hassan. He said the Court set aside Justice Dashen’s judgment.
Dickson commends Justice Danjuma
Dickson commended the Nigerian judiciary, and in particular, Hon. Justice Danjuma and Hon. Justice Hassan, for upholding the integrity of the Nigerian judiciary and expanding the sphere of multiparty democratic participation in Nigeria.
“We have said repeatedly that the NDC was set up to expand the frontier of multiparty democracy in Nigeria,” Dickson said. “Justice Dashen’s judgment a few months ago was an unexpected assault on our constitutional right to participate and an attempt to narrow the democratic space.”
He added: “Happily, today, by the decision of the Court of Appeal, the Nigerian democratic space has been protected, and the NDC’s right to participate in all political activities as a registered political party has been upheld.”
Dickson said: “I congratulate all members and candidates of our great party, the NDC, and thank Nigerians for their prayers and support.”
He recalled: “When the unexpected judgment of the Lokoja Federal High Court was delivered, we were bombarded with several calls for sympathy, support and prayers. Today, our collective prayers have been answered.”
He added: “The NDC continues to exist. Our registration remains valid and subsisting, and we and all our candidates will participate in all elections in 2027 and beyond, by the grace of God.”
Dickson urged: “Everyone should now focus on the campaigns, prepare for the elections, and focus on the task ahead to face the APC and defeat them at the polls.”
He also said: “A resort to arm-twisting, inducing or intimidating the judiciary will not work. We remain confident in the strength of our message, the commitment of our members, the viability of our candidates, and the support of Nigerians. With this conviction, we look forward to the forthcoming elections and are confident that the NDC will emerge victorious at the polls, by the grace of God.”
“The fight for Nigeria’s multiparty democracy continues and by the grace of God we will emerge victorious.