Relief for Atiku as Appeal Court stops deregistration of ADC, 4 other political parties

A Court of Appeal in Abuja has issued a temporary order to halt the enforcement of the Federal High Court decision that instructed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as well as four other political parties.

In its latest decision, the appellate court ordered that there be an immediate stay of the enforcement of the judgment of the lower court, thereby preventing the INEC from carrying out any move toward the deregistration of the political parties mentioned in the judgment.

This new development is coming less than 24 hours after the decision by Judge Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court instructing INEC to deregister five political parties, including the ADC and Accord Party (AP).

A scathing statement made by the three-man bench of the Appellate Court, as reported, indicated that the bench was not pleased with what the lower court did in declaring the petition null and void, saying that such an action was an outright “disregard of the higher court” and was “improper judicial conduct.”

According to the Court of Appeal, the status quo ante should prevail until all the legal questions pertaining to the case are decided.

In effect, the judgment stops any attempt by INEC to implement the decision of the Federal High Court, thereby preserving the status of the affected party(s) until a definite resolution of the matter.

The latest verdict will definitely escalate the ongoing legal and political wrangling concerning the controversial issue of deregistration.

More information about the ruling by the Appellate Court will come out once the ruling is made public.