The African Democratic Congress deregistration case has taken a dramatic turn after the Court of Appeal in Abuja halted the enforcement of a Federal High Court judgment that ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties.
The appellate court’s decision means that ADC remains a registered political party for now and can continue its political activities pending the determination of appeals challenging the earlier judgment.
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The ruling was delivered by a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal led by Justice Abba Mohammed, who granted an application seeking a stay of execution of the Federal High Court judgment.
The African Democratic Congress deregistration case has attracted nationwide attention because of its potential impact on Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The controversy began when a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered INEC to deregister the African Democratic Congress, Accord Party, Action Peoples Party, Action Alliance and Zenith Labour Party.
The trial court held that the affected parties failed to satisfy constitutional requirements necessary for continued registration and participation in future elections.
The court further directed INEC not to recognize the parties, accept candidates from them or allow them to participate in the 2027 general election.
However, the Court of Appeal ruled that the Federal High Court should not have proceeded to deliver its judgment because there was already an existing order directing it to suspend proceedings pending the outcome of appeals before the appellate court.
The Court of Appeal said the Federal High Court had been directed on May 22 to suspend proceedings in the matter pending the determination of appeals before the appellate court. The appellate court further stated that the trial judge proceeded to deliver judgment despite the existence of that order.
According to the appellate court, proceeding with the judgment in spite of the subsisting order amounted to a violation of judicial hierarchy and undermined the authority of the higher court.
The court noted that every lower court is expected to obey the directives of superior courts and refrain from taking actions that may render pending appeals ineffective.
As a result, the Court of Appeal granted the application for a stay of execution and suspended the enforcement of the judgment ordering the deregistration of ADC and the other affected political parties.
The latest ruling means the African Democratic Congress deregistration case is far from over, as the substantive appeals are yet to be heard and determined.
For members and supporters of ADC, the decision comes as a major relief because it temporarily protects the party’s legal status and political operations across the country.
Political observers say the outcome of the African Democratic Congress deregistration case could significantly influence preparations for the 2027 elections, especially if the affected parties intend to field candidates nationwide.
The appellate court has fixed June 25 for the hearing of the appeals and directed all parties involved to file their legal processes within the stipulated timeframe.
The case originated from a lawsuit filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators, which argued that the affected political parties no longer met the constitutional thresholds required to maintain their registration.
The lawsuit eventually led to the Federal High Court judgment that triggered the current legal battle involving ADC, INEC and the other political parties.
While the final outcome remains uncertain, the Court of Appeal’s latest decision means ADC has not been deregistered and remains eligible to continue functioning as a political party pending the resolution of the appeal.
With the next hearing date approaching, many Nigerians are closely watching the African Democratic Congress deregistration case to see whether the appellate court will ultimately uphold or overturn the judgment ordering the party’s removal from Nigeria’s political space.
We will continue to monitor every development in the case and provide timely updates as they happen. Bookmark this page and check back daily for the latest news, court decisions, and expert analysis on the African Democratic Congress deregistration case and what it means for ADC, INEC, and the 2027 elections.