Nigeria: Deregistration of ADC, Others Was Judicial Rascality - a-Court

What the report says

AllAfrica, citing Vanguard, reported that the Court of Appeal in Abuja has overturned a Federal High Court decision that ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to deregister five political parties: the African Democratic Congress, Action Peoples Party, Action Alliance, Accord Party and Zenith Labour Party. The appellate court reportedly described the lower court’s handling of the matter as judicial misconduct and said the parties remain validly registered.

The July 29 report said a unanimous three-judge panel found that Justice Peter Lifu’s June 15 order was a nullity because the Federal High Court proceeded despite an earlier Court of Appeal directive to pause the case while appeals were pending. In a lead judgment delivered by Justice Abba Mohammed, the panel also held that the suit was incompetent, filed by a non-juristic entity, and should have been dismissed for lack of jurisdiction and merit. Costs were awarded against the National Forum of Former Legislators, which brought the case.

The NFFL had argued that the parties failed to meet performance thresholds under Section 225A of Nigeria’s Constitution, as amended, and related electoral rules. It sought to compel INEC to withdraw recognition from them ahead of future elections. The Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, was reported to have supported the plaintiffs’ position, while INEC and the affected parties challenged the ruling.

The decision matters because it restores the affected parties’ ability, as reported, to operate and present candidates unless a further legal process changes that status. Vanguard reported that ADC officials welcomed the ruling, while political figures including ADC chairman David Mark, Atiku Abubakar and Osun Governor Ademola Adeleke framed the judgment as significant for electoral competition before 2027.