Appeal Court Overturns Order Directing INEC to Deregister ADC, Four Other Political Parties

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has overturned 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, ruling that the lower court lacked the jurisdiction to issue the order.

In a unanimous judgment delivered on Tuesday, a three-member panel led by Justice Abba Mohammed held that the suit upon which the Federal High Court based its decision was incompetent because it was instituted by a non-juristic entity that lacked the legal capacity to sue. The appellate court ruled that there was no valid action before the trial court to justify the consequential order directing INEC to deregister the affected parties.

The appellate court consequently set aside the June 15 judgment of the Federal High Court presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, which had ordered the deregistration of the ADC and four other political parties on the grounds that they allegedly failed to satisfy the constitutional requirements for continued registration.

The Court of Appeal further held that the trial court failed to properly evaluate the evidence placed before it, noting that material evidence indicating the political parties had won elective offices in previous elections was not adequately considered.

With the appellate judgment, the deregistration order has been nullified, restoring the legal status of the affected political parties and relieving INEC of any obligation to implement the earlier ruling. The decision is expected to have significant implications for Nigeria’s political landscape as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum.