ABUJA — The political landscape of Nigeria continues to expand ahead of the 2027 general elections, as a Federal High Court in Abuja has delivered a stinging legal defeat to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), compelling the electoral umpire to officially register the National Democratic Party (NDP).
In a landmark judgment delivered on Monday, February 16, 2026, Justice Mohammed Umar ruled that the commission’s refusal to grant the NDP a certificate of registration was “illegal, null, and void.” The court held that the political association had meticulously satisfied every constitutional and statutory requirement demanded by the laws of the land.
The Legal Battle for the Ballot
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2796/2025, was filed by the NDP’s National Chairman, Hon. Ada Frederick Okwori, alongside other key promoters. They had approached the court to challenge a letter from INEC dated December 18, 2025, which had summarily declined their application for registration.
Justice Umar, in his detailed ruling, noted that the NDP had met the stringent conditions laid out in Sections 222 to 224 of the 1999 Constitution and Sections 75 and 79 of the Electoral Act 2022. The judge slammed INEC’s decision as an “arbitrary exercise of power,” asserting that once an association meets the legal benchmarks, registration is a mandatory right, not a discretionary favour.
The “Automatic” Clause
In a move that puts immense pressure on the electoral body, the court issued a “mandatory order” compelling INEC to register the party “forthwith.”
Crucially, the judge added a biting “operation of law” provision: should INEC fail to issue the certificate immediately, the NDP will be deemed duly and legally registered by virtue of Section 75(4) of the Electoral Act, which stipulates that an application is deemed successful if the commission fails to provide a valid reason for rejection within a specific window.
“More Parties, Less Choice?” — Nigerians React with Mixed Emotions
The court’s decision has triggered a wave of sharp criticism and debate among Nigerians, many of whom are questioning the proliferation of political parties in a country already struggling with electoral logistics.
- “Crowding the Ballot”: “We already have nearly 20 parties that Nigerians can’t even name,” remarked an Abuja-based political analyst. “Adding more just makes the ballot paper longer and the manual collation process even more prone to errors and rigging. We need quality, not quantity.”
- “Democratic Rights vs. Reality”: Critics on social media blasted the move, arguing that many new parties are merely “shells” for politicians to negotiate with the ruling APC or the rising ADC coalition. “These parties are only born during election season. Where are they during the hunger and insecurity crises? It’s all about the 2027 scramble,” one viral post on X read.
- A Victory for the Rule of Law:Â Conversely, supporters of the judgment argued that INEC must not be allowed to act as a “gatekeeper” for the ruling class. “The court has sent a message that INEC must follow its own laws. If we want a true democracy, we must allow every legitimate group to organize,” a legal practitioner in Lagos stated.
The 2027 Scramble
The registration of the NDP follows the recent entry of the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) into the political arena. With the newly signed 2026 Electoral Act already causing controversy over electronic transmission, the influx of new parties is expected to further complicate an already volatile pre-election climate.
As of Thursday afternoon, February 19, INEC has not officially commented on whether it will appeal the judgment or comply with the “forthwith” registration of the NDP.
