Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja has mandated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the National Democratic Party (NDP), following a ruling in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2796/2025. The court found that the plaintiffs, led by NDP's National Chairman Ada Frederick Okwori, had met all necessary constitutional and statutory qualifications outlined in Sections 222–224 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Sections 75 and 79 of the Electoral Act 2022, and related INEC regulations. In a judgment delivered on February 16, 2026, Justice Umar declared the previous denial of registration by INEC ineffective and instructed the body to proceed with the registration of the NDP without delay, conferring all associated political rights and privileges. The court also specified that if INEC failed to act, the NDP would be considered registered by default under Section 75(4) of the Electoral Act 2022. This ruling increases the number of registered political parties in Nigeria to 22, amidst preparations for the 2027 general elections.
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