ADC, Accord and others won the fight to stop the party’s deregistration in the Appeals court

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Tuesday annulled and set aside the decision of the Federal High Court ordering the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Accord Party and three other political parties.

The appeals court stated that the Forum of Former Legislators who filed the lawsuit for revocation of registration did not have locus standi to file the case.

In a stern ruling delivered by a Court of Appeal panel led by Justice Abba Bello, the former legislator who filed the case was fined N1 million.

The appeals court specifically declared the ruling ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cancel the registration of the parties “null and void”.

Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, has ordered the electoral body to cancel the registration of the parties over their performance after the 2023 elections.

However, political parties, including ADC, Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP), and Zenith Labor Party (ZLP) sought the annulment of the Federal High Court decision.

The appellate court, while describing the judgment as “null” stated that “what the learned trial court did amounted to judicial impiety or what the Supreme Court termed as judicial insubordination.”

The appellant noted that the court erred in proceeding with the delivery of the decision despite an order from the appellate court ordering a stay of the process including delivery of the decision.

It was also stated that Respondent I initially did not have the locus standi to file a lawsuit, thereby setting aside the court’s decision.

“The evidence before the court clearly shows compliance with Article 225A of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as Amended). That the trial judge’s decision was incorrect,” the appeal court said.

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the hearing, Action Peoples Party (APP) adviser Barr. Peter Abang, expressed his satisfaction with the appeal court’s decision.

He said, “This judgment is a victory for democracy in Nigeria and that in the administration of justice, the hierarchy of the Judiciary in Nigeria must be respected because they establish an unbroken chain of command and no court should have the luxury of taking decisions that go against the correctness or otherwise of the orders of higher courts.”