Court of Appeal Halts Deregistration of Political Parties

On May 22, 2026, a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal, comprising Justices Moham Danjuma, Adebunkunola Banjoko, and Oyejoju O. Oyewumi, issued an order to stay further proceedings in a case concerning the deregistration of five political parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Action Alliance (AA).

This order was made despite a previous ruling by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja. The panel condemned the actions of the lower court for defying the higher court's order, characterizing it as a grave form of judicial misconduct and a violation of the hierarchy established by the 1999 Constitution.

The Court of Appeal's ruling reflects ongoing concerns about judicial integrity in Nigeria, as it noted that both judges and lawyers share responsibility for such misconduct. The panel's decision aims to uphold the integrity of the judicial process and ensure compliance with court orders.