The Court of Appeal in Abuja has temporarily stopped the deregistration of five political parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC), pending further legal proceedings.
The court suspended a Federal High Court judgment that had ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove the ADC, Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) from its list of registered parties.
In its ruling, the Appeal Court strongly criticized the Federal High Court, saying it acted improperly by delivering the judgment despite an earlier order from the Appeal Court while the matter was still under consideration. The appellate court described the action as a violation of judicial hierarchy and constitutional principles.
As a result, the affected parties can continue operating and participating in political activities for now.
How the Case Began
The controversy started when Justice Peter Odo Lifu of the Federal High Court ordered INEC to deregister the five parties, following a lawsuit filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators (NFFL).
The group argued that the parties failed to meet constitutional requirements for remaining registered, including electoral performance standards. The court directed INEC to stop recognizing the parties and prevent them from participating in the 2027 general elections.
Atiku Welcomes Appeal Court Decision
ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar praised the Appeal Court ruling, calling it a victory for democracy and constitutional order.
He expressed concern over what he described as conflicting and politically influenced court decisions, warning that attempts to undermine democracy through the judiciary could threaten Nigeria’s democratic system.
According to Atiku, the judiciary still has an opportunity to strengthen public confidence by upholding the Constitution and the rule of law.
Senior Lawyer Criticizes Lower Court
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Jibrin Okutepa described the Federal High Court’s action as judicial insubordination.
He argued that lower courts are legally required to obey and enforce decisions of higher courts, whether they agree with them or not. According to him, disregarding an order from the Court of Appeal undermines the rule of law.
Rufai Oseni Raises Concerns
Arise Television presenter Rufai Oseni suggested that the attempted deregistration of opposition parties could be part of broader political developments ahead of the 2027 elections.
He described the judgment as a possible “test run” to gauge public reaction and claimed there could be future efforts to affect the participation of major opposition figures in the election.
Oseni also questioned the basis of the deregistration order, arguing that some affected parties had recorded electoral victories and therefore should not be considered for deregistration.
Analyst Warns About Democratic Institutions
Political analyst Nduka Odo said the issue goes beyond political parties and concerns respect for the rule of law and judicial hierarchy.
He warned that if lower courts are allowed to ignore superior court decisions, it could set a dangerous precedent affecting politicians, businesses, and ordinary citizens alike.
Odo stressed that democracy depends on strong and independent institutions, including the judiciary, legislature, and electoral bodies. He added that rebuilding public trust in these institutions remains an important challenge.
