Court of Appeal Nullifies ADC Deregistration Judgment and Restores 4 Other Parties

The Court of Appeal nullifies ADC deregistration judgment in a sweeping unanimous verdict, reversing a controversial lower court ruling that ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to strike five opposition parties from the official register. 

A three-member appellate panel led by Justice Abba Mohammed ruled on Tuesday that the Federal High Court in Abuja lacked jurisdiction to issue the June 15 deregistration order in the first place. 

The appellate court declared the lower court's decision a complete nullity, confirming that the African Democratic Congress, Action Peoples Party, Action Alliance, Accord Party, and Zenith Labour Party remain fully registered political entities eligible to participate in upcoming elections.

Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Abba Mohammed held that the original suit was fundamentally defective because it was instituted by a non-juristic entity, the National Forum of Former Legislators, which lacked the necessary legal standing to bring the action. 

The appellate court faulted the trial judge, Justice Peter Lifu, for completely ignoring solid evidence demonstrating that the affected political parties had indeed won elective seats in previous general elections, thereby meeting the required criteria under Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution. 

Furthermore, the panel strongly criticized the lower court for delivering a final verdict in direct defiance of an explicit order issued by the Court of Appeal to stay all proceedings in the matter.

Describing the trial court's disregard for judicial hierarchy as an act of severe judicial insubordination, the appellate court ruled that the substantive suit ought to have been dismissed outright for lack of merit and jurisdiction. 

By upholding the separate appeals filed by the political parties and awarding financial costs against the plaintiffs, this decisive appellate ruling completely halts the move to shrink the country's multi-party landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections. 

With this verdict, all five political organizations retain full operational legitimacy, clearing any legal uncertainty surrounding their candidates and administrative structures.