Court Halts Order to Deregister ADC and Accord Others

*Blasts trial judge for disregarding Court’s hierarchy

Alex Enumah in Abuja

The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has issued a stay of execution on the orders of a Federal High Court that, on Monday, directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five political parties.

A three‑member appellate panel granted the stay on Tuesday while hearing an interlocutory appeal filed by the Accord Party.

In its Monday judgment, Justice Peter Lifu ordered INEC to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord, Action Alliance (AA), All Peoples Party (APP) and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) because none of them won an electoral seat in the 2023 general elections.

Justice Lifu issued the judgment without regard to an earlier appellate court order that had directed him to stay further proceedings pending the hearing and determination of the Accord Party’s appeal.

During the resumed hearing of the interlocutory appeal, attorneys for the parties slated for deregistration highlighted that Justice Lifu had acted in disregard of the appellate court’s directives.

In response, the three‑member panel criticized Justice Lifu for ignoring the appellate court’s orders and subsequently ordered a stay of the execution of the deregistration judgment.

According to the justices, the trial court exhibited judicial misconduct by proceeding with the hearing and issuing the order despite the appellate court’s stay and the pending appeal.

Details later.