Former presidential candidate and Acting National Chairman of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), Peter Ameh, has criticised the recent ruling of the Federal High Court in Lokoja concerning the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), describing the judgment as a dangerous precedent capable of undermining Nigeria’s democracy.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Ameh argued that the court exceeded its constitutional authority by revisiting an earlier judgment that had directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the NDC as a political party.
He maintained that the application leading to the latest ruling was filed by the Peace Movement Party, which, according to him, is not recognised as a registered political party and therefore lacked the legal standing to institute such proceedings.
Ameh described the court’s decision as deeply troubling, insisting that it was unreasonable for a duly registered political party to be deregistered at the request of an organisation that does not legally exist as a political party.
He further argued that the court had become functus officio after delivering its initial judgment, meaning it had exhausted its authority over the matter except under exceptional circumstances such as lack of jurisdiction, improper service of court processes, or fraud.
According to him, none of these conditions existed to justify the decision by Justice Isa Dashen to review the earlier judgment.
Ameh also questioned why the court entertained the application more than six months after its December 2025 ruling, noting that INEC did not challenge the judgment through an appeal within the legally prescribed period.
He added that before the latest ruling, the NDC had already conducted congresses, organised primary elections and produced candidates across the country.
Reiterating his position, Ameh insisted that the Peace Movement Party lacked the legal status to seek such relief even if INEC had appealed the earlier judgment.
He warned that the development raises serious concerns about the finality of court judgments and the limits of judicial authority.
The CUPP chairman further alleged that the ruling reflected attempts to manipulate the judicial process for political purposes, accusing the ruling government of seeking to influence the electoral process ahead of future elections.
Ameh announced that supporters of the party would organise peaceful demonstrations while also drawing the attention of the international community to what he described as an attack on democratic principles.
He concluded by stating that many Nigerians view the ruling not as a mere legal error but as a direct assault on democracy.
