The Independent National Electoral Commission moved swiftly on Tuesday to halt a Federal High Court judgment that ordered the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress and four other political parties.
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja delivered the judgment on Monday. He ruled that the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party, Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) failed to meet constitutional requirements under Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution.
The Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators filed the suit. The plaintiffs argued that the parties did not achieve the required electoral performance thresholds in previous elections. Justice Lifu directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove the parties from its register and bar them from future polls, including the 2027 general elections.
INEC chairman Joash Amupitan led the commission’s response. The commission filed an application at the Court of Appeal in Abuja for a stay of execution of the judgment. INEC counsel informed the appellate court that the commission received no prior notice of the judgment date or service of relevant processes.
INEC did not oppose the affected parties’ application for a stay. “We therefore do not oppose the application of the appellant to stay the execution of the judgment,” INEC counsel stated in court.
The Federal High Court judgment followed earlier legal disputes over party compliance. Affected parties, including ADC, prepared to challenge the ruling through appeals. The development occurred as some parties explored alliances ahead of the 2027 elections.
Legal experts noted that a successful stay would suspend enforcement pending the appeal’s determination. This move by INEC preserved the status quo for the parties in the short term. The Court of Appeal was set to hear arguments on the stay application.
The case highlighted ongoing debates about political party regulation in Nigeria. INEC maintained its commitment to constitutional provisions while seeking clarity through the appellate process.
