A’Court adjourns ADC, others’ deregistration case till July 14

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Tuesday, adjourned until July 14 the hearing of appeals filed by the African Democratic Congress, Accord and three other political parties challenging a judgment ordering their deregistration.

A three-member panel led by Justice Abba Mohammed adjourned the hearing after some parties were served with reply briefs in court on Tuesday, leaving them without sufficient time to file responsible .

Justice Mohammed held that the appeals were not ripe for hearing because the affected parties had only just been served with the processes.

The appellate court consequently adjourned the matter until July 14 and directed all parties to file and exchange their processes before the next hearing date.

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

The appeals stem from a judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, directing the Independent National Electoral Commission to deregister the five parties for allegedly failing to satisfy constitutional requirements for retaining their registration.

Justice Lifu also restrained INEC from recognising the parties, accepting nominations of candidates from them, or allowing them to participate in the 2027 general elections.

The judge further barred the affected parties from holding themselves out as registered political parties.

The judgment was delivered on June 15, in a suit instituted by the trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026.

The plaintiffs argued that INEC had a constitutional obligation under Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, the Electoral Act 2022, and its regulations to deregister political parties that failed to meet prescribed electoral performance thresholds.

According to the group, the five parties failed to secure at least 25 per cent of votes in a state during a presidential election, or win any elective seat at the national, state or local government levels, as required by law.

They maintained that the parties’ poor performance in the 2023 general elections and subsequent by-elections rendered their continued registration unlawful.

However, INEC opposed the suit and argued that the parties met the constitutional requirements for continued registration, tendering evidence to support its position.

Dissatisfied with the Federal High Court’s decision, the affected parties approached the Court of Appeal.

Before fixing the substantive appeals for hearing, the appellate court had, on June 16, stayed the execution of Justice Lifu’s judgment pending the determination of the appeals.

In granting the stay, the appellate court faulted the trial court for proceeding with the matter, despite an earlier order staying further proceedings.

The appellate court held that the trial court’s conduct amounted to “the highest form of judicial impertinence,” adding that it was a violation of the hierarchy of courts.

It consequently ruled, “The application for a stay of execution is hereby granted. The enforcement of the judgment is stayed.”

The appeal was initially fixed for hearing on June 25 before it was adjourned to July 7.