Nigerian court orders INEC to approve NDC’s updated logo
The Federal High Court in Abuja, Nigeria, has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (INEC) to approve and immediately upload to its official website the updated logo of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for use in all elections. The ruling was issued on Tuesday by Judge Joyce Abdulmalik in NDC’s lawsuit against the electoral commission.
Court ruling
As Premium Times Nigeria reports, the court ordered the approval of the modified design, including the NDC symbol and colours, as the party’s official logo for all purposes, including elections conducted by INEC.
The updated emblem is described as a digital image of a two-finger victory gesture on a blue background with the inscription “NDC” in red. The court also issued a permanent injunction barring INEC, its employees, agents and representatives from interfering with the party’s use of this logo.
The judge found INEC’s refusal to allow the NDC to change the colours and design of its logo unconstitutional and unlawful, as well as a violation of the party’s constitutional and legal rights. The ruling took into account the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution and Article 11 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
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Background of the dispute
NDC national leader Seriake Dickson called the decision a confirmation of the party’s position in its dispute with INEC. According to him, the NDC approved the modified logo after the first meeting of its National Executive Committee and submitted it to the commission. He said INEC initially uploaded the emblem to its website, but later removed it and replaced it with the original logo without explaining the reasons.
The dispute over the NDC’s registration began after INEC initially refused to register the party because of its proposed logo. In December 2025, the Federal High Court in Lokoja ordered the commission to recognise and register the NDC, and in February INEC announced its registration.
Later, the Peace Movement Party (PMP) stated that the NDC logo was similar to an emblem it had previously submitted to INEC. In June, Judge Isa Dashen overturned the earlier ruling, noting that the PMP should have been a party to the case, and ordered the dispute to be reheard with the participation of INEC, the NDC and the PMP. The NDC appealed this decision, insisting that the court had not ordered INEC to cancel the party’s registration.
