The High Court of Justice in Kogi State has denied reports claiming it ordered the deregistration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
A statement issued on Thursday, July 16, 2026, by the Court’s Chief Information Officer, Saqeeb Saeed, described the reports as false.
The Court stated that it has not handled any case concerning the registration or deregistration of any political party, including the NDC.
According to the statement, the posts circulating on social media did not originate from the state judiciary.
“The High Court of Justice of Kogi State did not handle any matter relating to the registration or deregistration of any political party in the country, and particularly the party in question,” the statement read.
The Court also questioned the use of the photograph of the Chief Judge of Kogi State, Justice Josiah Joe Majebi, alongside that of former Governor Yahaya Bello in the posts, stating it appeared designed to link the state judiciary to the claims.
While the Court noted it does not typically respond to social media posts, it stated that the use of the Chief Judge’s photograph made a public clarification necessary to protect the institution’s integrity. It cautioned social media users against sharing unverified information that could affect public confidence in the courts.
The clarification follows recent legal proceedings involving the party.
In June, the Federal High Court in Lokoja set aside an earlier judgment that directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the NDC. The court ruled that the initial suit was procedurally defective because interested parties were not joined.
Following that ruling, the NDC stated that the court did not deregister the party. The party noted that it has appealed the judgment and filed for a stay of execution, maintaining its status as a recognized political party pending the appeal outcome.
