Appeal court has reserved verdict on high court order deregistering ADC and four other parties.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the Court of Appeal in Abuja has reserved judgment in the appeals challenging a Federal High Court ruling that ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties.
A three-member panel of the appellate court, led by Justice Abba Bello Mohammed, on Tuesday announced that judgment would be delivered on a date to be communicated to all parties after counsel adopted their respective briefs of argument.
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The appeals were filed by the ADC, Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), all seeking to overturn the judgment delivered by Justice Peter Odo Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
The appellate court had earlier, on June 16, granted a stay of execution of the High Court’s decision and sharply criticised Justice Lifu for proceeding with the matter despite an earlier directive from the Court of Appeal ordering a stay of proceedings pending the determination of an interlocutory appeal.
The Court of Appeal held that Justice Lifu ignored its May 22 order after being duly notified, describing his conduct as “judicial impertinence.” The panel further noted that the Supreme Court had previously characterised such actions as “judicial rascality” and inconsistent with the standards expected of a judicial officer.
Justice Lifu had ruled that INEC should deregister the five political parties for allegedly failing to meet the constitutional requirements necessary to retain their registration.
He also restrained the electoral commission from recognising the affected parties, accepting candidates nominated by them, or allowing them to participate in the 2027 general elections. The parties were equally barred from presenting themselves as registered political parties.
The judgment followed a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026, filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators (NFFL).
Represented by its counsel, Rabo Mohammed, the NFFL argued that INEC is constitutionally obligated under Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022, and its own regulations to deregister political parties that fail to meet prescribed electoral performance benchmarks.
According to the plaintiff, the ADC and the four other parties failed to secure at least 25 per cent of the votes in any state during the 2023 presidential election or win any elective office at the federal, state, or local government level, as required by law.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), supported the suit, arguing that INEC’s continued recognition of the affected parties violated constitutional provisions and weakened the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system.
Dissatisfied with the High Court’s ruling, the affected political parties and INEC appealed the judgment, urging the Court of Appeal to nullify the decision.
After hearing submissions from all parties, the panel, comprising Justices Abba Bello Mohammed, Donatus Okorowo, and Oyebisi Oyebola Oyewumi, reserved judgment and said the date for its verdict would be communicated in due course.
