Appeal Court Halts Deregistration of Political Parties

The Appeal Court in Abuja has issued a stay on the Federal High Court's order that directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five political parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Action Alliance (AA), People's Party (APP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP). This decision was made by a three-member panel on Tuesday, following an interlocutory appeal filed by the affected parties.

Justice Peter Lifu had delivered the initial judgment on Monday, which led to the deregistration due to the parties' failure to win any electoral seats in the 2023 general elections. The Appeal Court's ruling allows the parties to continue their operations while the appeal is being heard.

The panel criticized Justice Lifu for disregarding the court's order and emphasized the need for adherence to judicial processes. Further details regarding the court's proceedings will be provided later.