ABUJA, June 29 — The Nigeria Democratic Congress has wrapped up marathon strategy sessions involving its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and national leader, Seriake Dickson, as the party prepares to appeal a court ruling that nullified its registration. The development comes barely 48 hours after the Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, set aside its earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission to register the NDC.
The ruling has intensified political tensions and drawn condemnation from opposition leaders who insist the decision is aimed at weakening opposition forces ahead of the 2027 general election. A senior party official, who spoke to The PUNCH on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly, disclosed that the party leadership had been holding back-to-back emergency meetings to finalise its legal strategy before approaching the Court of Appeal on Monday.
According to him, Obi, Dickson, the party’s national chairman, national secretary and other members of the party’s leadership attended Saturday’s closed-door meeting, while another emergency session was held on Sunday to fine-tune preparations for the appeal. “Yes, a number of closed-door meetings have taken place since the Kogi High Court judgment went viral. For instance, Obi, Senator Dickson, the party chairman, the secretary and other executives were in yesterday’s meeting,” the source said.
“Even as we speak, there is another emergency meeting ongoing ahead of tomorrow’s appeal.” The source added that the party had not yet finalised who would lead the legal team. “What I only know is that the NDC National Legal Adviser, Reuben Egwuaba, will play a key role in it.” The National Secretary of the party was also involved in the discussions, though details of the legal arguments to be presented remain closely guarded.
The court’s reversal has injected fresh uncertainty into Nigeria’s political landscape. Opposition figures have framed the ruling as part of a broader pattern of judicial decisions that could reshape the field ahead of the 2027 general election. The NDC, which had been working to establish itself as a viable alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, now faces an existential legal challenge.
The party’s leadership appears determined to exhaust all legal remedies. The back-to-back meetings suggest a sense of urgency, with the appeal deadline looming. The closed-door nature of the discussions indicates the party is treating the matter as a high-stakes legal battle rather than a routine procedural appeal.
Observers will be watching closely to see whether the Court of Appeal upholds the lower court’s ruling or restores the earlier judgment that had cleared the way for the NDC’s registration. The outcome could have significant implications for Nigeria’s opposition landscape as the country moves toward the 2027 election cycle.
For now, the party’s leadership is focused on Monday’s appeal. The source said the emergency meetings would continue until the legal team is fully prepared to present its case. The coming days will determine whether the NDC can survive this legal setback or whether the ruling marks a decisive blow to its ambitions.
