The ADC deregistration appeal returns to the Court of Appeal in Abuja today as judges begin hearing appeals seeking to overturn a Federal High Court judgment that directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties.
A three-member panel led by Justice Abba Mohammed will hear the appeals after completing preliminary proceedings on June 25, when all parties regularised their court documents.
The parties challenging the High Court ruling include the ADC, Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
Earlier, on June 16, the Appeal Court suspended the High Court judgment and criticised Justice Peter Lifu for delivering the ruling despite an earlier order directing him to halt proceedings until the appeal was decided.
The ADC deregistration appeal gained momentum after the appellate court ruled that the trial judge ignored its directive and described his action as judicial misconduct. The High Court had ordered INEC to deregister the five parties, barred them from participating in the 2027 general elections, and stopped them from operating as registered political parties.
The National Forum of Former Legislators (NFFL), which filed the suit, argued that the affected parties failed to meet constitutional requirements for continued registration. The group said the parties did not secure enough votes or win elective seats in the 2023 general elections and subsequent by-elections.
The Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), supported the suit, arguing that INEC must remove parties that fail to satisfy constitutional and electoral requirements. However, INEC and the affected parties have asked the Court of Appeal to overturn the judgment.
In a related development, the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered ADC National Welfare Secretary, Mr. Nkemakolam Ukandu, to pay N100 million in damages for filing a suit against Chief Judge John Tsoho and Justice Peter Lifu. Justice Salim Ibrahim also struck out the case after the plaintiff and his lawyer failed to appear in court. The judge directed Ukandu to pay N50 million to each judge within 14 days.
