INEC Seeks Stay on Court's Deregistration Order

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is pursuing a stay of execution regarding a Federal High Court judgment that mandated the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and three other political parties: Action Peoples Party, Action Alliance, and Accord Party. The ruling, delivered by Justice Peter Lifu, stated that these parties failed to meet constitutional requirements necessary for their continued registration.

INEC's counsel, Haliru Moham, expressed surprise at the lower court's decision to proceed with the judgment despite an earlier order from the Court of Appeal that had reserved the delivery of the judgment. Mr.

Shuaibu Aruwa SAN, representing the ADC, informed the appellate court that the parties received notification of the judgment via WhatsApp, which raised concerns about the judgment's validity. The appeal is set to be heard by a three-member panel in the Court of Appeal, with the INEC arguing that allowing the judgment to stand would create uncertainty in the electoral process ahead of the June 20 elections in six states.