NDC Deregistration: Kwankwaso Urges Obidients, Kwankwasiyya to Stay Calm and Await party’s next move

Rabiu Kwankwaso, the vice-presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), has appealed to members of the party, including supporters from the Obidient and Kwankwasiyya movements, to remain calm and wait for the party’s next steps following the court ruling that affected its registration.

Kwankwaso made the appeal during an interview shared on X, assuring supporters that the party had already begun the legal process to challenge the judgment. He said the leadership was confident that the courts would address the matter and restore the party’s registration.

The development followed a judgment by the Federal High Court in Lokoja, where Justice Isa H. Dashen set aside an earlier ruling delivered on December 10, 2025, which had directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the NDC as a political party.

The court explained that the earlier judgment affected the rights of the Peace Movement Party, which claimed ownership of the logo used by the NDC and was not included in the original case. Based on that argument, the judge reversed the previous decision.

INEC has since stated that it is waiting to receive the Certified True Copy of the judgment before deciding on its next action regarding the party.

Reacting to the ruling, Kwankwaso said the decision came as a surprise because the NDC logo, which features a victory sign, is different from those of existing political parties. He maintained that the party had followed all legal procedures before seeking registration and had secured a court order directing INEC to register it.

He added that after the December 2025 judgment, INEC did not challenge the ruling but instead proceeded with the registration process. According to him, the commission monitored the party’s congresses, national convention and other official activities over the past six months.

Kwankwaso questioned why a group whose own application for registration had reportedly been rejected was able to return to the same court and secure a judgment reversing the earlier decision. He described the development as unexpected and said many political observers were equally surprised.

He said the party would file fresh applications before the court to seek an order stopping the implementation of the judgment while pursuing an appeal. He expressed confidence that the legal process would eventually favour the party.

Kwankwaso urged supporters across the country not to lose hope or react in ways that could create tension. He advised them to remain patient while the party’s legal team handles the matter, expressing optimism that the registration issue would be resolved through the courts.