Appeal Court Voids Order Directing INEC to Deregister ADC, Others

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has set aside the Federal High Court judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties, ruling that the lower court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the suit.

In a unanimous decision delivered by a three-member panel, the appellate court held that the June 15 judgment ordering the deregistration of the affected parties was a nullity and therefore of no legal effect.

The ruling brings a fresh twist to a legal battle that began after the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators instituted an action seeking to compel INEC to strike the parties off its register for allegedly failing to satisfy constitutional requirements for continued registration. The suit targeted the ADC, Accord Party, Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court had, on June 15, ordered INEC to deregister the five parties, holding that they failed to meet the electoral performance threshold prescribed by the Constitution. The judgment also barred the parties from participating in future elections.

However, the decision immediately sparked appeals by INEC and the affected political parties, who argued that the trial court acted without jurisdiction. The appellate court had earlier stayed the execution of the judgment pending the determination of the substantive appeals.

With the latest verdict, the Court of Appeal nullified the entire proceedings of the lower court, effectively restoring the legal status of the ADC and the other affected political parties.

The judgment is expected to strengthen the position of the parties ahead of the 2027 general election, particularly the ADC, which has emerged as one of the country’s major opposition platforms in recent months.