NIGERIA – The 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has described the recent judgment of a Federal High Court in Lokoja as a “serious setback” for Nigeria’s democracy, warning that it could further erode public confidence in the country’s democratic institutions.
Obi’s reaction followed Friday’s ruling by the Federal High Court in Lokoja, which set aside its earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party.
In a ruling delivered on Friday, June 26, 2026, Justice Isah Dashen held that the court’s earlier judgment of December 10, 2025, was constitutionally defective because it was delivered without hearing all necessary parties whose interests were directly affected by the case.
Obi made the remarks on Saturday after learning of the Lokoja court ruling while attending official engagements in Imo State. According to him, he received news of the judgment from former Kano State governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, while visiting Madonna University.
Earlier in the day, Obi visited the School of Nursing Sciences, Emekuku, where he inspected projects funded through his previous interventions, including the institution’s computer laboratory. He also attended the 80th birthday celebration of the Emeritus Archbishop of Owerri, Most Rev. Dr Anthony Obinna, whom he commended for his commitment to justice, peace, and the common good.
Reacting to the judgment, Obi said every Nigerian committed to the country’s progress should be concerned, describing the ruling as another setback for Nigeria’s democratic system.
“It is regrettable that some who claim to champion democracy now appear determined to weaken the very institutions that sustain it,” he said.
He argued that both the legislature and the judiciary were increasingly being drawn into a pattern of institutional decline, warning that democracy could not thrive where institutions lose their independence and credibility.
Obi maintained that his position was guided by principle rather than political interest, recalling that he had similarly condemned actions affecting the African Democratic Congress (ADC) when the party faced a comparable situation.
“My concern is not about who becomes President. My concern is that Nigeria works,” Obi said, urging political leaders to prioritise justice, the rule of law, strong institutions, and equal opportunity over the pursuit of political power.
He called on Nigerians to rise above partisan interests and unite in defending the country’s democratic institutions, stressing that their survival was essential to Nigeria’s future.
“The survival of our institutions is inseparable from the survival of our nation. It is when we work together that a new Nigeria of our dreams is made possible,” he added.
