Abuja: The Accord Party has rejected a Federal High Court judgment ordering the deregistration of five political parties, describing the ruling as a “travesty of justice” and vowing to challenge it at the appellate level.
The National Chairman of the party, Maxwell Mgbudem, made the position known in a statement on Monday in Abuja.
Mgbudem said the judgment was delivered despite a subsisting order of the Court of Appeal directing a stay of proceedings in the matter, arguing that the trial court acted in disregard of a valid appellate directive.
“It is curious that the Federal High Court would proceed to deliver judgment on a matter in respect of which the Court of Appeal had already issued a stay of proceedings,” he said.
He maintained that the decision raised serious concerns about due process and respect for judicial hierarchy, insisting that courts are bound to observe valid orders of superior courts.
According to him, the party has already begun steps to challenge the ruling, stressing that the judgment was delivered in violation of an existing appellate order.
“Accord will challenge the contentious judgment delivered in disobedience of the appellate court order,” he said.
The party also argued that it ought not to have been affected by the suit filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators, adding that it had met all constitutional and electoral requirements for continued registration, including winning two councillorship seats in Jigawa State.
Mgbudem assured members, candidates and supporters that Accord would remain on the ballot in forthcoming elections across the country.
He reaffirmed the party’s readiness to participate in the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections, as well as preparations for the 2027 general elections, including the planned launch of its Imole campaign in Osun State.
“The attempt to distract our great party by anti-democratic forces has failed and will continue to fail,” he said.
Mgbudem reiterated Accord’s commitment to the rule of law, constitutional governance and the strengthening of Nigeria’s multiparty democracy.
He added that the party would continue to advocate good governance, economic prosperity, national security and people-centred leadership.
Urging members to remain united, he said Accord remained focused on national development and democratic advancement despite ongoing legal challenges.
Meanwhile, the Federal High Court in Abuja had ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties.
The affected parties include the Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
The order followed a judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu in a suit filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators, which sought enforcement of constitutional provisions under Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) regarding party performance thresholds and deregistration criteria, as reinforced by the Electoral Act 2022 and INEC regulations
