Court Orders INEC to Recognise, Upload NDC’s Modified Logo
By Nafiu Muhammad Lema
The Federal High Court in Abuja has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to approve and upload the modified logo of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) on its official website.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik issued the order on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, while delivering judgment in a suit filed by the NDC against INEC, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1814/2026.
The court held that INEC’s refusal to approve the modification of the party’s logo was unconstitutional, unlawful and amounted to an infringement of the NDC’s rights.
Relying on relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution and Article 11 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the court found that the NDC had met the necessary requirements for modifying its logo.
Justice Abdulmalik further ruled that the design adopted by the party at its first National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on March 25, 2026, should be recognised as the NDC’s official logo.
The court ordered INEC, its officials, agents and servants to “forthwith approve” the modified logo, including its symbol and colours.
It also directed the electoral commission to publish the logo on its official website and allow the NDC to use it “for all purposes as a political party including for all elections conducted by the Defendant in Nigeria.”
Dispute Over NDC Logo
The judgment followed a prolonged dispute over the registration and identity of the NDC.
According to the party’s National Secretary, Ikenna Enekweizu, its registration process began in 2017 but encountered objections from INEC over similarities between its proposed logo and that of another political association.
The NDC subsequently went to court, leading to a December 10, 2025 judgment by the Federal High Court in Lokoja, which ordered INEC to register the group as a political party.
INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, later announced the registration of the NDC and another political party on February 5, 2026, citing the Lokoja judgment.
The Peace Movement Party (PMP), however, challenged the decision, claiming an interest in the disputed two-finger victory symbol.
The PMP argued that it had submitted the logo to INEC before the NDC and that the commission was aware of its earlier application.
On June 26, Justice Isah Dashen set aside the earlier judgment after finding that the PMP had a direct legal interest in the matter but had not been joined to the case or given an opportunity to be heard.
The court ordered that the substantive dispute be heard afresh, with INEC, PMP and NDC joined as parties.
The NDC has maintained that the June ruling did not expressly order its deregistration and has indicated its intention to appeal the decision.
NDC Welcomes Latest Ruling
Reacting to the Abuja judgment, Osa Director, National Publicity Secretary of the NDC, said the party welcomed the court’s decision.
Director said the NDC approached the court after INEC removed the modified logo it had previously uploaded to its website and restored the old association logo without explanation.
He explained that the party’s NEC approved the new design on March 25 and forwarded it to INEC, but the commission subsequently removed it.
According to him, the NDC gave INEC adequate opportunity to resolve the matter administratively before seeking judicial intervention.
Director said the latest judgment had affirmed the party’s right to use its modified two-finger victory logo as its official symbol.
“We thank the judiciary for its timely intervention and for directing INEC to upload and utilise the NDC’s modified digital logo,” he said.
He added that all NDC candidates and members had been directed to use the approved logo on campaign materials, including banners, posters and other publicity materials.
The party also acknowledged that some members and candidates had already produced materials bearing the old logo, saying it regretted any inconvenience caused by the change.
