The Court of Appeal in Abuja has set aside a Federal High Court judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties.
In a unanimous judgment delivered by a three-member panel led by Justice Abba Mohammed, the appellate court held that the lower court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the suit, describing the proceedings as a nullity because they were initiated by a non-juristic entity.
The court ruled that there was no valid case to justify the order compelling INEC to deregister the parties. It further held that the trial court failed to properly evaluate evidence showing that the affected parties had won elective seats in previous elections and also ignored an earlier Court of Appeal order directing it to stay proceedings.
Consequently, the appellate court restored the registration of the ADC, Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), while awarding costs against the National Forum of Former Legislators, which instituted the suit.
The appellate court also criticised the trial judge, Justice Peter Lifu, for proceeding with the matter despite an existing order to stay proceedings, describing the action as contrary to judicial hierarchy.
The Federal High Court had earlier ruled that the five parties failed to meet constitutional electoral performance requirements and ordered INEC to withdraw their recognition and bar them from participating in the 2027 general elections.
However, the Court of Appeal has now overturned that decision, affirming that all five parties remain duly registered political parties.