Court Overturns INEC's Deregistration of Opposition Parties

The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal set aside a June 15, 2026 judgment by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, which had ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five opposition political parties ahead of the 2027 elections. The appellate court declared the judgment “null and void,” criticizing it as a “nullity” and describing the trial court's actions as judicial impertinence.

The three-man panel, led by Justice Abba Mohammed, unanimously ruled that the trial court lacked the judicial power to hear the case, especially after a stay of proceedings had been ordered. The court noted that the first respondent did not have the standing to initiate the action.

The ruling emphasized the need for judges to respect the hierarchy of courts and warned against being influenced by political motives. The judgment serves as a reprimand to judges like Justice Lifu, highlighting the potential dangers of such rulings in higher courts.