Lokoja Court Ruling On NDC Threatens Democracy, Rule of Law — Ameh

Former National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Chief Peter Ameh, has condemned the recent Federal High Court ruling in Lokoja on the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), describing it as “a dangerous assault on democracy and the rule of law.”

Ameh, who is also the Acting National Chairman of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), made the remarks in a statement issued to journalists on Saturday in Abuja while reacting to the court’s decision, which he alleged improperly reviewed an earlier judgment recognising the NDC.

According to him, the ruling raises serious concerns about judicial independence, the finality of court judgments, and the integrity of Nigeria’s judicial process.

“It is laughable that a court would agree to deregister a duly registered political party simply because an unregistered, legally nonexistent party asked it to do so,” Ameh said.

“Something is seriously and fundamentally wrong with the integrity of the court’s decision. This is no longer just about the executive arm of government interfering in judicial affairs but about deep systemic rot within the judiciary itself.”

Ameh claimed that the application leading to the review was filed by the Peace Movement Party, which he alleged is not a registered political party recognised under Nigerian law and was not a party to the original suit decided on December 10, 2025.

He maintained that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which was the defendant in the suit, did not appeal the judgment within the three-month period prescribed by law.

The former IPAC chairman argued that the court became functus officio after delivering its judgment and therefore lacked the authority to revisit the substantive issues except under exceptional circumstances.

“Ordinarily, once a court delivers its judgment, it is said to have become functus officio, meaning that the court has performed its duty and exhausted its powers over that matter,” he stated.

“A court is not supposed to review its own judgment except in extreme circumstances, such as where it acted without jurisdiction, where a party to the suit was not properly served, or where the judgment was obtained by fraud. Sadly, none of these circumstances existed to justify Justice Isa Dashen reviewing his own judgment.”

Ameh questioned why the review application was entertained more than six months after the original judgment, particularly after the NDC had reportedly concluded its primary elections and produced candidates nationwide.

“It is therefore a clear case of judicial overreach for the judgment to overturn the earlier decision after six months through a very questionable process,” he said.

He further alleged that the Peace Movement Party lacked the legal standing to seek a review because it was neither a party to the original proceedings nor a legally recognised political party.

Expressing concern over the implications of the ruling, Ameh said the decision could undermine public confidence in the judiciary and weaken the principle of certainty in judicial decisions.

“This is exactly why many legal minds should be worried. What just happened raises serious questions about the limits of judicial powers and the sanctity of final judgments,” he said.

The CUPP Acting National Chairman also alleged that the judgment was politically motivated and intended to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“The Lokoja judgment is obviously the hand of Esau and the voice of Jacob—the puppet and the puppeteer,” he said.

“It represents a failed APC government that is petrified of a free and fair election and is desperate to reproduce the rejected status quo through the 2027 general elections by strangulating a virile opposition.”

Calling for civic action, Ameh urged Nigerians to resist what he described as judicial manipulation, saying supporters and civil society groups would organise peaceful rallies while drawing international attention to what he characterised as threats to Nigeria’s democratic process.

“We must insist that judicial manipulation is discontinued forthwith,” he said. “For many Nigerians, this is not an error of law. It is an assault on democracy.”