Appeal Court Suspends Deregistration Of ADC, Four Other Political Parties

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has ordered a stay of execution on the Federal High Court judgment that directed the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

In its ruling, the appellate court criticised the decision of the lower court to proceed with the matter despite an earlier order issued by the Court of Appeal and the pendency of related proceedings before it.

The court described the action of the trial judge, Justice Peter Lifu, as a violation of judicial hierarchy and due process, stating that lower courts are bound by the orders and directives of superior courts.

According to the appellate court, proceeding with the judgment while an appeal was pending amounted to a disregard for established judicial procedures and the constitutional structure of the court system.

The panel subsequently granted an application for a stay of execution, effectively suspending the enforcement of the judgment pending the determination of the appeal.

“The enforcement of the judgment is hereby stayed,” the court ruled.

Justice Lifu had earlier ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the five political parties, holding that they failed to meet constitutional requirements necessary for their continued existence and participation in future elections.

The ruling generated reactions from political stakeholders, with the affected parties rejecting the judgment and vowing to challenge the decision through legal means.

With the latest decision by the Court of Appeal, the status quo remains in place pending the final resolution of the matter. The ruling allows the affected political parties to continue operating while the appeal process continues.