Harry Archie
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has overturned a Federal High Court judgment that ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties.
In a unanimous decision, a three-member panel of justices ruled that the lower court had no legal authority to make the order because the case was filed by a body that lacked the legal right to sue.
The Appeal Court also said the High Court ignored evidence showing that the affected parties had won elective positions in previous elections.
It added that the trial judge failed to obey an earlier court order directing him to stop proceedings while an appeal was pending.
The court ruled that the ADC, Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) remain legally registered political parties.
It also awarded costs against the National Forum of Former Legislators (NFFL), which filed the case.
The Federal High Court had earlier ordered INEC to deregister the five parties, saying they failed to meet constitutional requirements to remain registered and participate in future elections.
INEC and the affected parties challenged the judgment, leading to the Appeal Court’s decision.
