The Court of Appeal has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to stay execution of the verdict by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court ordering the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord, and Action Alliance, Zenith Labour Party and Action Peoples Party.
In a unanimous ruling on Tuesday evening, a three-member panel of the Appellate Court set aside the order of the trial court for violating the principles of judicial precedence and hierarchy of courts by going ahead to deliver judgment in a matter for which it had ordered a stay of proceedings.
The interlocutory appeal that took the case to the Appeal Court is that instituted by Accord challenging the ruling of the trial court of 27 April refusing to grant an application for joinder in the deregistration suit instituted by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators.
Before the ruling, the respondents in their submissions urged the appellate court to exercise its disciplinary powers over the Federal High Court judge.
The five deregistered political parties expressed concerns that the order of the Federal High Court judge puts in jeopardy their chances in the by-elections scheduled for this coming weekend, June 20.
These elections are scheduled to be held across senatorial and federal constituencies of six states, including the off-cycle Ekiti State governorship election.
A group, the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators had filed the initial suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026 against the five political parties.The plaintiff, who also joined the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) in the suit, named INEC as 1st defendant.
In the suit decided in its favour by Justice Lifu, the forum argued that the affected political parties failed to meet constitutional requirements relating to electoral spread and performance.
It contended that political parties were required to secure at least 25 per cent of votes in prescribed elections to remain relevant under the law.
It, therefore, urged the court to order the deregistration of the parties, insisting that none of the defendants had effectively countered the arguments.
