The Abuja division of the Court of Appeal has put a temporary hold on a Federal High Court ruling that mandated the deregistration of five political parties.
The affected organizations include the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
The appellate court strongly criticized the initial judgment delivered by Justice Peter Odo Lifu, characterizing his decision to proceed with the case—despite a pending matter and a previous order from the higher court—as a serious breach of judicial hierarchy and constitutional authority.
The panel emphasized that lower courts are legally required to follow the directives of superior courts, ordering a stay of execution on the deregistration pending further hearings.
This ruling temporarily protects the legal status of these parties and ensures they can continue preparing for upcoming elections.
Background of the Case
The dispute arose after Justice Lifu ruled in favor of a lawsuit brought forward by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators (NFFL). The plaintiffs claimed that the five parties had failed to meet the necessary constitutional requirements—such as securing elected offices or hitting specific vote thresholds—to maintain their registered status, arguing that keeping them active wasted public resources.
Consequently, the High Court had ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to strip the parties of their recognition and block them from the 2027 general elections.
