The Court of Appeal in Abuja has halted the enforcement of a Federal High Court judgment that ordered the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties. The appellate court, in a unanimous ruling by a three-member panel led by Justice Abubakar Mohammed, criticized Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court for proceeding with the case despite a May 22 order to suspend proceedings.
The panel described the lower court’s action as a ‘brazen violation of the hierarchy of courts’ and ‘the highest form of judicial impertinence.’ It emphasized that a judge who acts in such a manner ‘is unfit for the bench as it amounts to judicial rascality,’ citing a Supreme Court precedent.
The appellate court stated, ‘Courts are enjoined to protect their integrity. This Court has supervisory authority over the trial court. The decision of the lower court to proceed with the judgment despite the express order of this court is a brazen violation of the hierarchy of the court and the 1999 Constitution.’ Consequently, the application for a stay of execution was granted, and the enforcement of the judgment is suspended.
The Court of Appeal has scheduled June 25 for the hearing of the substantive appeal. The deregistration order had been issued against ADC, Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), based on a suit filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators (NFFL).
The High Court had ruled that these parties failed to meet constitutional requirements, including winning at least 25% of votes in a state during a presidential election or securing at least one elective seat. It barred INEC from recognizing them or accepting their candidates for the 2027 elections. However, the Appeal Court’s intervention has put the order on hold pending further review.