Zamfara NDC Chief Calls Deregistration Ruling Temporary, Urges Unity
Surajo Garba Maikatako, chairman of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Zamfara State, said the party’s reported deregistration by the Federal High Court is only a temporary legal hurdle and that the NDC remains a legally recognised and operational party. He spoke in Gusau on Sunday, assuring members that the party’s structures from polling units to the national level remain intact, its candidates are still valid and preparations for the 2027 general elections are ongoing. Maikatako urged supporters to stay calm, united and focused, expressing confidence in the national leadership and highlighting Senator Kabiru Marafa, the party’s governorship candidate in Zamfara, as a key figure in its political aspirations. He called on members to pursue all available legal options while the party contests the ruling. Maikatako emphasized that the NDC had fulfilled all statutory obligations, including timely submission of annual reports and payment of dues, and that the court’s decision does not nullify those compliance records. He encouraged party structures at ward and local government levels to intensify voter registration drives and civic education campaigns, stressing that sustained grassroots work is vital for electoral success. Furthermore, he disclosed that the national executive committee is reviewing the judgment and will decide on legal remedies, including an appeal to the Court of Appeal, to protect the party’s rights.