Appeal Court freezes deregistration of ADC, others
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has halted the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties, ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to enforce the Federal High Court judgment pending the determination of an appeal.
In a ruling delivered on Tuesday, a three member panel of the appellate court granted a stay of execution of the lower court’s decision and restrained INEC from taking any action against the affected parties until the substantive appeal is heard and decided.
The appellate court faulted the judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, describing it as a “brazen disregard for the higher court and judicial impertinence.”
Justice Lifu had on Monday directed INEC to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party (AP), and three other political parties, citing their alleged failure to meet constitutional requirements for continued registration.
However, the Court of Appeal’s intervention has effectively preserved the legal status of the five political parties, allowing them to remain registered and operational while the appeal process continues.
The ruling represents a significant legal reprieve for the affected parties and temporarily suspends any move by INEC to implement the controversial deregistration order.
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