Human rights advocate and former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Chidi Odinkalu, has criticised a recent judgment by Justice Isah Dashen of the Federal High Court in Lokoja, describing it as legally and constitutionally questionable.
In a post on his verified X account on Saturday, July 4, 2026, Odinkalu reacted after copies of the ruling circulated online. He argued that Justice Dashen exceeded the court’s powers by effectively approving the de-recognition of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
The judgment arose from a dispute over the official logos of the NDC and the Peace Movement Party (PMP), a decision that has sparked debate over its possible political implications.
Odinkalu also highlighted what he described as an inconsistency with an earlier ruling by the same judge in November 2025, when Justice Dashen reportedly held that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) lacked the constitutional authority to reject a political party’s logo solely because it resembled that of another registered party.
He said the latest judgment undermines confidence in judicial consistency and independence, alleging that the ruling reflected an improper exercise of judicial power and could have lasting implications for public trust in the judiciary.
