The Court of Appeal has suspended the implementation of a Federal High Court judgment that ordered the deregistration of African Democratic Congress, ADC, Accord and three other political parties.
The ruling, which comes as a major reprieve to the affected parties ahead of key elections, was unanimously decided by a three-member panel of the appellate court.
The Court set aside the enforcement of the lower court’s ruling, holding that the trial court acted contrary to established judicial procedures and the hierarchy of courts by proceeding to deliver judgment despite an earlier order directing a stay of proceedings.
The appeal arose from a challenge filed by Accord against an April 27 ruling of the Federal High Court, which had declined the party’s application to be joined in a suit instituted by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators seeking the deregistration of several political parties.
Before the ruling, counsel to the respondents urged the appellate court to invoke its disciplinary powers against the trial judge, Justice Peter Lifu, over his handling of the matter.
The affected parties had warned that the deregistration order could jeopardise their participation in upcoming by-elections scheduled for June 20 across several senatorial and federal constituencies, as well as the off-cycle governorship election in Ekiti State.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, threw its weight behind the affected parties, urging the Court of Appeal to halt the execution of the Federal High Court judgment pending the determination of substantive appeals.
Represented by its counsel, Haliru Mohammed, the electoral commission told the court that it was surprised by the judgment, insisting that the lower court delivered its verdict despite an appellate court order issued on May 22 restraining it from doing so.
INEC further disclosed that it was not notified of the judgment date and only became aware of the ruling through media reports.
According to the commission, the judgment had initially been scheduled for delivery on June 5 before the Court of Appeal intervened and directed that proceedings be halted.
The commission’s stance marks a dramatic development in a case that has attracted widespread political attention, particularly as parties and political actors intensify consultations and alliances ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Justice Lifu’s ruling ordering the deregistration of the ADC and four other parties had generated controversy across the political spectrum, with critics questioning both the legal basis and timing of the decision.
With INEC now openly supporting efforts to suspend the judgment, attention has shifted to the Court of Appeal, whose eventual decision on the substantive issues could determine the future status of the affected parties.
The electoral commission’s intervention strengthens the case of the parties and raises broader questions about the validity and enforceability of the Federal High Court ruling.
