The Chairman of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Ondo State, Kennedy Peretei, has insisted that the party’s registration remains legally valid despite a recent court ruling, describing attempts to challenge its status as “judicial rascality” and part of a broader effort to undermine opposition politics ahead of future elections.
Speaking during an interview on Adamimogo 105.1 FM, Peretei expressed confidence that the NDC would remain on the ballot, arguing that the court lacked the authority to reopen a matter it had already determined.
According to him, the legal dispute originated after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declined to register the NDC, claiming that its logo closely resembled that of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He said the party challenged the decision in court, where the judge ruled that there was no similarity between the two logos and ordered INEC to register the party.
Peretei explained that the registration process, which began in 2017, eventually culminated in the court judgment delivered in December 2025, after which INEC complied with the order. He questioned why another group, which he said was not a party to the original suit, was now seeking to reopen the matter several months later.
“You cannot reopen a case that has already been decided by the same court,” he said, maintaining that the principle of law prevents a court from reviewing a judgment after it has become functus officio. He added that the NDC had already approached the courts to stop any move to deregister the party while also preparing to challenge the Lokoja ruling at the Court of Appeal.
The Ondo State NDC chairman dismissed fears among party supporters that its participation in future elections could be jeopardised, insisting there was no legal basis for deregistration. He expressed confidence that INEC Chairman, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, understood the legal implications and would not act contrary to established judicial principles.
Peretei also suggested that the legal challenge could be part of a coordinated effort to shrink Nigeria’s opposition space. Reacting to concerns raised by opposition figures over alleged attempts to remove parties such as the NDC and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) from the ballot, he said the ruling APC appeared threatened despite controlling many elected offices across the country.
“If the APC truly believes it has the support of Nigerians, it should have no reason to fear opposition parties contesting elections,” he said. “Nigeria belongs to everyone, not to any single political party.”
Drawing parallels with Nigeria’s democratic struggles under military rule, Peretei argued that no administration could permanently suppress political opposition, expressing optimism that any alleged attempts to weaken alternative parties would ultimately fail.
Beyond politics, the Ondo NDC chairman criticised recent remarks by the First Lady encouraging Nigerians, particularly women and youths, to embrace small-scale businesses such as roasting corn and frying snacks as a pathway to economic survival.
He described the comments as insensitive to the economic realities facing millions of Nigerians, arguing that even the current N70,000 minimum wage was insufficient to sustain workers for more than a week in the face of rising living costs.
Peretei also faulted comments by presidential media aide Sunday Dare and presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga defending the administration’s position on the economy. He challenged government officials to disclose their own earnings before advising ordinary Nigerians on how to survive, accusing the government of taking citizens for granted while many continue to struggle under severe economic hardship.
