Appeal Court Voids Judgment Ordering Deregistration of ADC, Four Other Political Parties
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has nullified the Federal High Court judgment that ordered the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party, and three other political parties, describing the lower court’s decision as legally invalid.
In a unanimous judgment delivered on Tuesday, a three-member panel led by Justice Abba Mohammed ruled that the Federal High Court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the case and declared its judgment “null and void.”
The appellate court overturned the earlier ruling by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which had directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) over their performance in the 2023 general elections.
According to the Court of Appeal, the trial court erred by proceeding to deliver judgment despite an existing order from the appellate court directing a stay of proceedings, including the delivery of judgment. The court described the action as an act of judicial overreach and insubordination.
The appellate court further held that the plaintiff who instituted the suit lacked the legal standing (locus standi) to file the case. It also found that the affected political parties had complied with the provisions of Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), rendering the Federal High Court’s decision unsustainable.
Reacting to the judgment, counsel to the Action Peoples Party (APP), Barrister Peter Abang, welcomed the ruling, describing it as a victory for democracy and the rule of law. He stressed that the decision reaffirmed the importance of respecting the hierarchy of courts and the binding nature of orders issued by superior courts.
The judgment effectively restores the legal status of the five political parties and brings an end to the Federal High Court’s order directing their deregistration.
