Nigeria has recorded a notable improvement in global higher education standings, with 24 of its universities making the prestigious 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings.

According to the Federal Ministry of Education, the increased representation underscores early positive outcomes from the Nigerian Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI). Public universities particularly drove the country’s gains across key performance areas, including teaching, research, innovation, and governance.

The University of Ibadan and the University of Lagos continue to rank among the nation’s top performers, while Bayero University Kano has emerged as one of the country’s strongest institutions in the latest global assessment.

The ministry noted that Nigeria’s presence on the list grew from 21 universities in both 2024 and 2025 to 24 in 2026. This positions Nigeria as the most represented country in Sub-Saharan Africa on the THE World University Rankings.

The development is being viewed as a significant milestone in the country’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its tertiary education system and enhance its competitiveness on the global stage.

A Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja has set aside its earlier judgment delivered on December 10, 2025, which directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party.

Delivering the ruling, Justice Isah Dashen held that all parties with a direct interest in the matter must be given a fair hearing before any substantive decision is reached, in line with the principles of natural justice.

The judge ruled that the application filed by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), an interested party in the suit, had merit, noting that the party successfully established its legal interest in the case.

Justice Dashen held that the earlier proceedings were constitutionally defective because the interested party was not heard.

He declared the previous judgment a nullity and ordered that the status quo be restored pending the hearing of the substantive suit.

The court further observed that material facts were suppressed during the proceedings that led to the December 2025 judgment, making it necessary to set aside the earlier ruling.

Justice Dashen consequently ordered that the substantive suit commence afresh, with INEC, the Peace Movement Party (PMP), and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) joined as parties in the case.

A Federal High Court in Lokoja has set aside its earlier judgment that directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party.

In a ruling delivered on Friday, Justice Isah Dashen nullified the December 10, 2025 judgment, declaring it a nullity on grounds that it violated the principles of natural justice.

Justice Dashen held that all parties with a direct interest in the matter must be given a fair hearing before any substantive decision is made. He upheld an application by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which joined the suit as an interested party, ruling that PMP successfully established its legal interest.

The judge noted that the earlier proceedings were constitutionally defective because the interested party was not heard. He further observed that material facts were suppressed during the initial proceedings, which necessitated setting aside the previous ruling.

Justice Dashen ordered that the status quo be restored pending the hearing of the substantive suit. He directed that the case commence afresh, with INEC, the Peace Movement Party (PMP), and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) properly joined as parties.