Court Orders INEC to Recognise, Upload NDC’s Modified Logo

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise, approve and upload the modified logo of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) on its official website.

The judgement was delivered on September 8, 2026, by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1814/2026, filed by the NDC against the electoral commission.

The court held that INEC’s refusal to allow the political party to modify its logo was unconstitutional, illegal and an infringement on the rights of the NDC.

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 complied with the necessary requirements for the modification of its logo.

Justice Abdulmalik further ruled that the modified design adopted by the party at its first National Executive Committee meeting on March 25, 2026, should be recognised as the NDC’s official logo.

The judge consequently directed INEC and its officers to immediately approve the modified logo, including its symbol and colours, and publish it on the commission’s official website.

The court also ordered that the logo be recognised for use by the NDC as its official identity for all purposes as a political party, including elections conducted by INEC across Nigeria.

How the Logo Dispute Began

The legal battle over the NDC’s logo is linked to a broader dispute surrounding the party’s registration.

According to the party’s national secretary, Ikenna Enekweizu, the registration process dates back to 2017. INEC had initially rejected the application over concerns about similarities between the proposed NDC logo and that of another political party.

The NDC subsequently approached the court, and in December 2025, the Federal High Court in Lokoja ordered INEC to register the party.

INEC later announced the registration of the NDC in February 2026, citing the Lokoja judgement.

The development, however, triggered another legal dispute after the Peace Movement Party argued that it had an earlier claim to the same two finger victory symbol and should have been included in the original proceedings.

In June 2026, the Lokoja court set aside its earlier judgement after finding that the Peace Movement Party had a legally recognisable interest in the matter but was not joined to the case or given an opportunity to be heard.

The court subsequently ordered that the substantive dispute be heard afresh with INEC, the Peace Movement Party and the NDC joined as parties.

The NDC has maintained that the June judgement did not expressly order its deregistration and indicated that it would challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal.

NDC Welcomes Court Decision

Reacting to the latest judgement, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, said the NDC welcomed the court’s decision.

Director said the party was compelled to approach the court after INEC removed its modified logo from the commission’s website and reinstated the old association logo.

According to him, the NDC’s NEC had approved the modified logo on March 25 and forwarded it to INEC, but the commission subsequently removed it without providing an explanation.

The party said it had allowed sufficient time for the matter to be resolved administratively before seeking judicial intervention.

With the latest judgement, the NDC maintains that its right to use the modified two finger victory symbol as its official logo has now been affirmed by the court.

The party has consequently directed its candidates and members to use only the approved logo on campaign materials, including banners, posters and other publicity materials.

It also acknowledged that some candidates and members may have already produced campaign materials bearing the old logo and expressed regret over any inconvenience caused by the change.