Appeal Court reinstates ADC, four other political parties
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has set aside a lower court judgment that ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five political parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
In a unanimous decision delivered by a three-member panel, the appellate court ruled that the order issued by the Federal High Court on 15 June was a legal nullity.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has set aside a lower court judgment that ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five political parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
In a unanimous decision delivered by a three-member panel, the appellate court ruled that the order issued by the Federal High Court on 15 June was a legal nullity.
Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Abba Mohammed held that the lower court lacked jurisdiction because the suit was filed by a non-juristic entity—the National Forum of Former Legislators (NFFL). Consequently, the appellate court ruled that no valid lawsuit existed to justify deregistering the parties.
The court further noted that the trial judge, Justice Peter Lifu, failed to properly evaluate evidence demonstrating that the affected parties had won various elective seats in previous elections.
Crucially, the appellate panel censured the trial court for proceeding with the case in defiance of an explicit order issued by the Court of Appeal on 22 May to stay proceedings. Describing the trial judge’s actions as “judicial impertinence,” the panel highlighted established Supreme Court precedent warning against such disregard for judicial hierarchy.
As a result, the Court of Appeal allowed the separate appeals filed by the political parties, quashed the lower court’s directive, and awarded monetary costs against the NFFL.
Alongside the ADC, the four other parties whose legal status has been fully restored are: Action Peoples Party (APP); Action Alliance (AA); Accord Party (AP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP)
The legal dispute originated from a suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026) in which the NFFL argued that the five parties had failed to meet the constitutional electoral performance thresholds outlined in Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN, had supported the plaintiffs’ suit, contending that non-performing parties undermined electoral integrity.
However, following the appellate court’s ruling, all five political parties remain duly registered and fully eligible to participate in upcoming electoral activities leading into the 2027 general elections.
