The Acting National Chairman of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), Chief Peter Ameh, has strongly condemned a recent court ruling in Lokoja, describing it as a dangerous case of judicial overreach that threatens Nigeria’s democratic process and the rule of law.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Ameh argued that the judgment, which reportedly nullified the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), raises serious constitutional and legal concerns, particularly because the application was allegedly brought by the Peace and Movement Party, which he claims is not a legally registered political party in Nigeria.
According to the former National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), it is unprecedented and legally untenable for a court to entertain an application seeking the deregistration of a duly registered political party from an organisation that, according to him, lacks legal recognition.
“It is laughable that a court would agree to deregister a duly registered political party simply because an unregistered, legally nonexistent party asked it to do so,” Ameh stated.
He argued that the development reflects what he described as a deeper institutional crisis within Nigeria’s judiciary, warning that the integrity and finality of judicial decisions are increasingly being undermined.
Ameh maintained that the Lokoja court, presided over by Justice Isa Dashen, exceeded its constitutional powers by revisiting and substantially altering its earlier judgment delivered on December 10, 2025.
According to him, once a court delivers its judgment, it ordinarily becomes functus officio—a legal principle that prevents a court from reopening or reviewing its own final decision except under exceptional circumstances such as lack of jurisdiction, improper service of parties, or fraud.
He insisted that none of those exceptional circumstances existed in the matter.
“The judge, in the guise of reviewing his own judgment, ended up sitting as an appellate court over his own decision,” Ameh alleged.
The CUPP chairman further argued that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which was the defendant in the original suit concerning the administrative registration of the NDC, did not file an appeal within the constitutionally prescribed three-month period.
He questioned why the matter resurfaced more than six months after the original judgment, particularly after the NDC had already concluded its party primaries and produced candidates across the country.
According to him, even if Justice Dashen considered it necessary to reopen proceedings, he should not have disturbed the substance of the earlier judgment.
Ameh also questioned the legal standing of the Peace and Movement Party, insisting that it was neither a party to the original suit nor a registered political party capable of initiating such proceedings.
“The so-called Peace and Movement Party is not a legal entity and did not suffer any injury arising from the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress,” he stated.
He alleged that the application for judicial review was adopted because an appeal by INEC would have appeared suspicious, given that the statutory period for filing an appeal had already expired.
Describing the judgment as a dangerous precedent, Ameh warned that allowing courts to revisit final judgments without established legal justification could erode confidence in Nigeria’s judicial system.
He further linked the development to broader concerns about Nigeria’s political climate ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Without presenting evidence in the statement, Ameh alleged that the ruling forms part of efforts by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubu to weaken opposition political parties before the next election.
Using a biblical analogy, he described the Lokoja judgment as “the hand of Esau and the voice of Jacob,” suggesting that unseen political interests were influencing judicial outcomes.
He accused the ruling party of attempting to reproduce the current political order through what he termed judicial manipulation rather than transparent electoral competition.
The CUPP acting chairman announced plans to mobilise supporters and other Nigerians for nationwide protests against what he described as judicial impunity and interference in the democratic process.
He also disclosed plans to engage the international community over what he characterised as attempts to suppress viable opposition parties ahead of the 2027 elections.
“For many Nigerians, this is not merely an error of law. It is an assault on democracy,” Ameh declared.
