ABUJA — The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to approve and immediately upload the modified logo of the Nigeria Democratic Congress for use in elections, handing the opposition party a significant victory in its dispute with the electoral body.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik issued the order in a judgment delivered on Tuesday following a suit filed by the NDC against INEC on August 11.

The court directed the commission to recognise the modified design as the NDC's official logo for its activities as a registered political party, including elections conducted by INEC.

The modified design features a digitally created two finger victory sign against a blue background, with the letters NDC written in red.

The ruling comes as the party prepares for the 2027 general election, with Peter Obi as its presidential candidate.

The court also granted a perpetual injunction restraining INEC and its officials, agents and representatives from interfering with the party's use of the modified logo.

INEC was further directed to upload the design to its official platform for use in elections.

The ruling resolves, for now, a disagreement that had left the party and its candidates uncertain about which version of the NDC symbol should appear on campaign materials and potentially on election documents.

COURT RULES AGAINST INEC

Justice Abdulmalik held that INEC's refusal to allow the NDC to modify its colours and logo was unconstitutional and illegal and infringed upon the party's constitutional and statutory rights.

In reaching her decision, the judge considered provisions of Nigeria's Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights relating to political participation, association and equality before the law.

The court's decision means INEC must recognise the modified design rather than insist on the earlier symbol under which the political association was initially registered.

The judgment also prevents the commission from obstructing the NDC's use of the modified symbol unless the ruling is subsequently overturned or otherwise altered through further legal proceedings.

DICKSON WELCOMES RULING

NDC national leader Seriake Dickson welcomed the judgment, describing it as a vindication of the party's position.

Dickson, a former Bayelsa State governor and serving senator, said the NDC approved the modified logo during its first National Executive Council meeting before forwarding it to INEC.

According to him, the commission initially uploaded the new design but later removed it and returned to the original logo without providing the party with an explanation.

The NDC had publicly acknowledged in August that it was consulting with INEC over the proposed modification and had instructed candidates to continue using the existing two finger victory symbol while the administrative issues were being resolved.

After the disagreement remained unresolved, the party approached the Federal High Court.

Following Tuesday's ruling, Dickson directed NDC candidates and members to begin using the modified logo on campaign materials.

Candidates who have already produced posters, banners and other publicity materials bearing the previous design have been asked to transition to the court approved version.

Dickson sought to reassure supporters that both designs retain the recognisable two finger victory sign.

The party is also expected to conduct a public awareness campaign to familiarise voters with the modified design ahead of the 2027 elections.

RULING COMES AMID WIDER LEGAL BATTLE

The logo dispute forms part of a more complicated legal history surrounding the NDC's emergence as a political party.

In December 2025, the Federal High Court in Lokoja ordered INEC to recognise and register the NDC after the commission had initially declined its registration over issues that included the proposed party logo and symbol.

INEC subsequently complied, announcing the NDC's registration in February 2026.

The registration was later challenged by the Peace Movement Party.

The PMP argued that the NDC's logo was similar to a design it had previously submitted to INEC and that it should have been included as a party in the proceedings that led to the NDC's registration.

In June, Justice Isah Dashen of the Federal High Court in Lokoja set aside the December 2025 judgment.

The court held that the PMP was a necessary party whose interests should have been considered before the earlier judgment was delivered.

The ruling restored the legal position that existed before the December judgment and directed that the underlying dispute be considered again with INEC, NDC and PMP participating.

The NDC rejected that decision and appealed.

The party maintained that the ruling did not contain an express order directing INEC to deregister it.

INEC's current political party records continue to list the Nigeria Democratic Congress, identifying its status as being by court order.

NDC MOVES AHEAD WITH 2027 CAMPAIGN

Tuesday's Abuja ruling gives the NDC greater clarity over its visual identity as campaigning intensifies ahead of the 2027 general election.

Party candidates and officials can now transition to the modified logo following Dickson's directive.

The party says it will formally communicate the change and embark on voter sensitisation to minimise confusion between the old and modified designs.

The decision is particularly important because party symbols play a significant role on Nigerian ballot papers, where voters identify political parties by their names, acronyms and logos.

The ruling on the modified logo does not, however, end the separate litigation surrounding the circumstances of the NDC's original registration.

For now, the Abuja court's order requires INEC to approve, upload and recognise the modified NDC logo for electoral purposes while restraining the commission from interfering with its use.