The Court of Appeal in Abuja has voided 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 — Action Peoples Party, Action Alliance, Accord Party, and Zenith Labour Party.
A three-member panel ruled that Justice Peter Lifu had no legal basis to deliver the June 15 judgment, since he did so in open defiance of the appellate court’s May 22 order directing him to stay proceedings pending appeal. The panel described the judge’s conduct as “a form of judicial impertinence,” invoking an earlier Supreme Court standard that such behaviour renders a judge “unfit for the bench.”
The court found the underlying suit, filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators, was brought by a non-juristic entity and that the trial court wrongly assumed jurisdiction. It also held that the parties’ electoral performance evidence — proof they had won seats in prior elections — had been ignored at trial. All five parties were declared to remain validly registered, and costs were awarded against the litigants who brought the case.
