Court orders INEC to register LPP within 30 days

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Liberation People’s Party (LPP) as a political party and to issue it a certificate of registration within 30 days.

This decision reverses an earlier ruling by the Federal High Court, Abuja, which had denied the reliefs requested by the LPP.

In a landmark judgment delivered on Tuesday, a panel of three justices held that the LPP was properly registered under Section 75(4) of the Electoral Act, 2022, effective from December 2025—60 days after the party submitted its application to INEC.

The panel, composed of Justices Banjoko, Abang, and Oyewunmi, ruled in favor of the LPP and awarded the party N5 million in damages against INEC, plus N500,000 to cover litigation costs.

The court’s ruling followed an appeal by the LPP against the judgment of the Federal High Court, which was presided over by Justice B.F.M. Nyako.

The party said it was one of 14 political associations prequalified by INEC out of 171 applicants seeking registration in 2025.

After paying the mandatory administrative fee of N2 million, the LPP received an access code that was valid for 30 days, allowing it to upload the required registration documents on INEC’s online portal.

However, the LPP claimed that INEC blocked its access to the portal before the deadline, preventing the completion of the registration process.

In its judgment, the Court of Appeal found that the circumstances of the case warranted treating the party as duly registered in accordance with the Electoral Act.

Lead counsel for the LPP, Barrister John Nwobodo, called the ruling a triumph for democracy, justice, and the rule of law.

“We appreciate the Justices of the Court of Appeal for upholding justice and reaffirming the judiciary as the last hope of the common man,” he said.

Nwobodo also assured Nigerians that the party would remain committed to democratic values, inclusiveness, and broader political participation.