Appeal Court Saves ADC Reverses INEC Deregistration Order

Appeal Court in Abuja has stopped INEC from deregistering ADC and four other parties, preserving them for 2027 elections.

Court of Appeal Abuja reverses ADC deregistration order against INEC

Abuja — The African Democratic Congress has secured a major court victory after the Court of Appeal stopped the Independent National Electoral Commission from deregistering the party.

The appellate court in Abuja on Tuesday ordered a stay of execution of the judgment that directed INEC to deregister the ADC and four other political parties.

The other affected parties are the Action Peoples Party, Action Alliance, Accord Party and Zenith Labour Party.

The stay halts a June 15 judgment of the Federal High Court which had barred INEC from recognizing the parties for the 2027 general elections.

The three-man panel did not mince words. It accused Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court of delivering his ruling despite a subsisting order. The Appeal Court had on May 22 restrained him from going ahead with the case.

In its ruling, the appellate court described the lower court's action as a brazen disregard for the higher court and judicial impertinence.

INEC itself had asked for the stay. The commission told the court it was shocked that Justice Lifu proceeded to deliver judgment after being stopped by a superior court.

INEC has consistently maintained its position. In a counter-affidavit filed in May, the electoral body stated that the ADC had not violated any registration requirements and had not failed any constitutional threshold.

The ADC leadership welcomed the decision. National Chairman, Senator David Mark, insisted the party will remain on the ballot for 2027, describing the High Court judgment as a temporary setback.

The party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, also condemned the earlier ruling. He called it a dangerous assault on constitutional democracy, noting it was delivered despite the May 22 Appeal Court order staying proceedings.

With the stay now in place, the ADC, Accord and the three other parties retain their legal status while the substantive appeal continues. The decision keeps the opposition parties alive in the build-up to the 2027 elections.