Jane Salihu
In a major legal defeat for Nigeria’s electoral umpire, the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately restore and adopt the newly modified digital logo of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for all future elections.
According to a press statement released on September 10, 2026, by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director Esq, the court granted all prayers sought by the party, compelling INEC to recognise its digitally designed “two-finger victory sign” featuring a blue background and red “NDC” lettering as the party’s sole official symbol.
The legal showdown followed INEC’s abrupt decision to remove the party’s new digital logo after initially uploading it. The NDC had formally submitted the approved design following its First National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on March 25, 2026. After the electoral body unilaterally deleted the digital logo and reinstated the abandoned association-era symbol without providing reasons, the NDC instituted legal proceedings to protect its identity.
Delivering the judgment, Hon. Justice J.O. Abdulmalik issued a order of perpetual injunction restraining INEC, its agents, or officers from interfering with or preventing the NDC from using its new symbol. The court directed that the digitally rendered logo must be utilised for all political activities and elections across the country.
Reaction from the NDC was swift, with party leadership issuing an immediate directive to all candidates, members, and campaign teams to halt the use of the old logo and adopt the court-approved symbol on all banners, posters, and campaign materials.
Acknowledging the logistical hurdles and financial inconvenience caused to candidates who had already printed materials with the discarded logo, the party assured its members that a nation-wide public sensitisation campaign will begin immediately to educate voters on the party’s official visual identity ahead of upcoming polls.
