The Court of Appeal in Abuja has nullified the judgment of the Federal High Court that ordered the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party, and three other political parties, restoring their legal status ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a unanimous judgment delivered on Tuesday, a three-member panel led by Justice Abba Bello held that the National Forum of Former Legislators, which instituted the suit seeking the parties’ deregistration, lacked the legal standing (locus standi) to file the case.
The appellate court consequently declared the June 15 judgment delivered by Justice Peter Odo Lifu of the Federal High Court a nullity, ruling that the lower court wrongly assumed jurisdiction over an incompetent suit filed by an entity without legal capacity.
As part of its ruling, the Court of Appeal awarded ₦1 million in costs against the National Forum of Former Legislators for initiating what it described as an incompetent action.
The court held that since the originating suit was fundamentally defective, there was no valid legal basis upon which the Federal High Court could order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the affected political parties.
The appellate court further faulted the trial judge for failing to properly evaluate the evidence presented before the court. It noted that documentary evidence showing that the affected political parties had won elective positions in previous elections was ignored before the judgment was delivered.
The panel also observed that the Federal High Court proceeded with the matter despite an earlier order directing it to stay further proceedings, describing the action as inconsistent with established judicial procedures.
Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Abba Mohammed ruled that the lower court ought to have dismissed the suit for lack of jurisdiction and merit rather than entertain it.
He affirmed that all five political parties remain legally registered and are entitled to continue participating in Nigeria’s electoral process.
The judgment restored the legal status of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party, and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), allowing the separate appeals filed by the parties.
The Court of Appeal had earlier, on June 16, granted a stay of execution of the Federal High Court’s judgment, preventing INEC from implementing the deregistration order while the appeals were pending. During those proceedings, the appellate court also criticized the trial judge for allegedly disregarding the hierarchy of the courts.
The latest judgment effectively settles the dispute in favour of the affected political parties, clearing the way for them to continue their political activities and preparations ahead of future elections.
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