The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately approve, upload and recognise the modified digital logo of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for use as the party’s official emblem in all elections conducted by the Commission.
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Justice Joyce Abdulmalik gave the order in a judgment delivered on Tuesday in an originating summons filed by the NDC against INEC on August 11, 2026, over the Commission’s refusal to retain the modified logo adopted by the party.
In the enrolled order of the court, the judge directed INEC “to forthwith approve the modified logo design of the Plaintiff, including its symbol and colours … for use by the plaintiff as its official logo for all purposes as a political party including for all elections conducted by the Defendant in Nigeria.”
The court described the approved emblem as a digitally designed two-finger victory sign on a blue background with the inscription “NDC” written in red.
Beyond directing INEC to approve the logo, Justice Abdulmalik granted a perpetual injunction restraining the Commission, its servants, agents, officers and representatives from interfering with the NDC’s use of the modified emblem.
The court also ordered INEC to immediately upload the modified logo to its official website and make it available for the NDC’s use in elections conducted by the electoral body.
Justice Abdulmalik further declared INEC’s refusal to allow the NDC to modify its colour and logo design unconstitutional, illegal and an infringement of the party’s constitutional and statutory rights.
In reaching the decision, the court considered provisions of the 1999 Constitution, including Sections 221 and 222, alongside provisions dealing with democratic participation, equality before the law and freedom of association, as well as Article 11 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The judge referred to the constitutional principle that Nigeria should be a state founded on democracy and social justice and that citizens’ participation in government must be conducted in accordance with the Constitution.
The court also relied on the constitutional requirement that every citizen should enjoy equality of rights, obligations and opportunities before the law.
Former Bayelsa State Governor and national leader of the NDC, Senator Seriake Dickson, subsequently released the enrolled order and welcomed the judgment, describing it as a “vindication of the NDC’s position” in its dispute with INEC.
Dickson said the NDC had adopted the modified logo at its first National Executive Committee meeting and forwarded it to INEC.
According to him, the Commission initially uploaded the modified emblem to its platform but later removed it without giving the party any explanation and reverted to the association logo under which the NDC had originally been registered.
He said the party allowed INEC time to resolve the matter administratively before approaching the Federal High Court when no resolution was forthcoming.
Following the judgment, Dickson directed NDC candidates and members to immediately begin using the modified logo on campaign materials, including posters, banners and other publicity materials.
“We understand that some candidates and party members may have already made arrangements using the other logo, and we regret the inconvenience this may have caused,” he said.
“However, both logos retain the two-finger victory sign. Candidates should now transition to the logo approved in our party’s constitution, which is the authentic party logo and, indeed, the one that is more widely recognised.”
He added that the party would undertake further publicity to familiarise its candidates, members and voters with the court-approved emblem.
The logo dispute followed earlier litigation surrounding the NDC’s registration as a political party. The Federal High Court in Lokoja had, on December 10, 2025, ordered INEC to recognise and register the NDC, following which the Commission announced the party’s registration in February 2026.
That decision was subsequently challenged by the Peace Movement Party, which argued that the logo submitted by the NDC was similar to one it had previously presented to INEC and that it ought to have been joined in the proceedings.
In June 2026, another judge of the Federal High Court in Lokoja set aside the earlier judgment on the ground that the Peace Movement Party was a necessary party that should have been heard. The substantive dispute was consequently ordered to be reheard with INEC, the NDC and the PMP as parties.
The NDC appealed that decision and maintained that no court had ordered INEC to deregister it.
Reports that a Kogi State High Court had ordered the NDC’s deregistration were also subsequently denied by that court, which said it had not heard or determined any case concerning the registration or deregistration of the party.
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