INEC seeks stay of execution for judgment deregistering five political parties
via Punch Nigeria3 min read
The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has approached the Court of Appeal in Abuja, requesting a stay of execution for a Federal High Court judgment that ordered the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress ADC and four other political parties. INEC also supported the appeal filed by the affected parties. The Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, had ordered the deregistration of the ADC, Action Peoples Party, Action Alliance, Accord Party, and Zenith Labour Party, citing their failure to meet constitutional requirements. INEC's counsel, Haliru Mohammed, stated that the commission was surprised by the lower court's decision, given an earlier appellate court order to halt the judgment's delivery. Counsel to the ADC, Mr. Shuaibu Aruwa SAN, informed the appellate court that his party received notification of the judgment via WhatsApp and urged the court to intervene, arguing that the lower court's decision was delivered despite a subsisting order from the Court of Appeal. Lawyers for the affected parties also highlighted upcoming by-elections scheduled for June 20 in six states, expressing concerns that the judgment could create electoral uncertainties. The original ruling by Justice Lifu followed a suit by the National Forum of Former Legislators NFFL, which argued that the parties failed to meet constitutional benchmarks for retaining registration, including performance thresholds in elections.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
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Must ReadThe Court of Appeal in Abuja has issued a stay of execution on a judgment that mandated the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC to deregister the African Democratic Congress ADC and four other political parties. A three-member panel, led by Justice A. B. Mohammed, unanimously condemned Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja for proceeding with the judgment despite a May 22 order from the appellate court to suspend proceedings. The panel characterized Justice Lifu's actions as "the gravest form of judicial misconduct" and "the highest form of judicial impertinence," citing a Supreme Court precedent that such conduct renders a judge "unfit for the bench." INEC's lead counsel, Mr. Haliru Mohammed, stated that the commission learned of the ruling through media reports and was not officially notified, adding that INEC did not oppose the application for a stay of execution. Counsel for the ADC, Mr. Shuaibu Aruwa, SAN, revealed that Justice Lifu communicated the judgment's delivery via WhatsApp and urged the appellate court to take disciplinary action. The other affected parties highlighted upcoming June 20 by-elections, warning of potential electoral and constitutional crises if the deregistration judgment were to stand. The Federal High Court had previously ordered the deregistration of the ADC, Action Peoples Party, Action Alliance, Accord Party, and Zenith Labour Party for failing to meet constitutional requirements. With the appellate court's order, th
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