Appeal Court halts deregistration of ADC, four other parties

Nigeria's Appeal Court in Abuja has moved to temporarily block execution of a judgment issued by the Federal High Court that sought to remove the African Democratic Congress (ADC) along with four additional political parties from the electoral register. This suspension, granted on Tuesday, preserves registration status for these organizations as the nation approaches the 2027 general elections.

Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court had ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to strip the ADC, Action People's Party, Action Accord Alliance, Accord Party, and Zenith Labour Party from the register. The judge's decision relied on constitutional provisions found in Section 225(a) of the 1999 Constitution, reasoning that these organizations had not achieved the required 25 percent vote share in certain states nor secured legislative seats when elections occurred in 2023.

Observers have welcomed the appellate court's stay of deregistration, viewing it as reinforcement of Nigeria's judicial hierarchy principles. Attorney Jibrin Okutepa took issue with how the lower court proceeded, labeling its conduct as judicial insubordination.

He contended that tribunals operating at lower levels face a legal obligation to respect and enforce rulings handed down by superior courts, even when those rulings may be disputed. Reporting varies regarding the exact quantity of organizations involved—some accounts identify five while others cite four.

The appellate court's temporary intervention safeguards these organizations' entitlement to engage in electoral processes while litigation moves forward at higher levels. The dispute highlights persistent disagreements surrounding vote minimums and the extent of court authority in overseeing party registration matters throughout Nigeria.