By Joyce Ekeh
The National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Seriake Dickson, has said the Court of Appeal’s decision to uphold the party’s registration has protected Nigeria’s democratic space and reaffirmed the right to multiparty participation.
The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Friday set aside the June 26 judgment of the Federal High Court in Lokoja, delivered by Justice Isah Dashen, which had vacated an earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the NDC.
Reacting to the judgment, Dickson, a former Bayelsa State governor, commended the judiciary, particularly Justices Mohammed Danjuma and Hassan, for what he described as upholding the integrity of the judicial system and expanding the space for multiparty democratic participation.
In a press statement posted on his Facebook page on Friday, Dickson said the Court of Appeal had overturned what he described as the “faulty ruling” of the Federal High Court in Lokoja.
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).
“In a judgment delivered by the presiding Justice, Justice Mohammed Danjuma and read by Justice Hassan, the Court ruled in favour of allowing our appeal, which challenged the faulty ruling of the Federal High Court, Lokoja, and accordingly, set aside Justice Dashen’s judgment.
“We want to use this opportunity once again to commend the Nigerian judiciary, and in particular, Hon. Justice Danjuma and Hon. Justice Hassan, for upholding the integrity of the Nigerian judiciary and, by their decisions, expanding the sphere of multiparty democratic participation in Nigeria.”
Dickson said the NDC was established to expand the frontiers of multiparty democracy in Nigeria, arguing that the Federal High Court judgment had threatened the party’s constitutional right to participate in the political process.
“We have said repeatedly that the NDC was set up to expand the frontier of multiparty democracy in Nigeria. 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 said.
“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 congratulated members and candidates of the party and thanked Nigerians for their prayers and support during the legal battle.
He declared that the NDC would continue its political activities and participate in the 2027 elections.
“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,” he said.
The former governor urged party members to focus on preparations for the elections, while expressing confidence in the party’s ability to compete.
“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,” he said.
Dickson added that the struggle for multiparty democracy would continue, concluding with the party’s slogan: “NDC all the way.”
