By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the National Democratic Party (NDP) as a political party, declaring that the association has met all constitutional and statutory requirements.
The judgment, delivered by Hon. Justice M. G. Umar on February 16, followed an originating summons filed on December 29, 2025, by the plaintiffs in the suit marked Hon. Ada Frederick Okwori & Ors. v. INEC.
In the certified true copy of the judgment order made available to journalists on Thursday, the court held that the plaintiffs had satisfied the requirements of Sections 222–224 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), as well as Sections 75 and 79 of the Electoral Act 2022 and INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties 2022.
The court made a declaration that the plaintiffs’ political association, National Democratic Party (NDP), having fulfilled all legal requirements, “is qualified to be registered as a political party.”
It further declared that the defendant has a duty to register the plaintiffs’ political association as a political party.
Justice Umar also set aside INEC’s letter with reference number INEC/DEPM/AFR/979/1/144 dated December 18, 2025, which had been addressed to the association and effectively declined its registration. The court described the letter as null, void and of no legal effect.
In addition, the court issued an order compelling INEC to register the plaintiffs’ political association, National Democratic Party (NDP), as a political party forthwith.
The order was issued in Abuja under the hand of the presiding judge and sealed by the court’s registrar, Daisy Esa.
The judgment comes amid renewed agitation by political associations seeking recognition ahead of the 2027 general elections. In recent months, INEC has cleared a number of associations seeking registration, but only two have been formally registered as political parties so far, out of the total number of groups that initially indicated interest and met preliminary conditions.
Reacting to the judgment, the NDP interim national chairman, Ada Frederick, described the ruling as a victory for constitutionalism and participatory democracy.
She said, “The court has affirmed what we have always maintained, that we met all the requirements under Sections 222 to 224 of the Constitution, Sections 75 and 79 of the Electoral Act 2022, and INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties 2022.”