The Court of Appeal in Abuja has suspended the enforcement of a Federal High Court judgment that ordered the deregistration of five political parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP). The appellate court’s decision, delivered on Tuesday, halted the immediate deregistration process and restored the parties’ legal standing for now, preventing them from being barred from participating in the 2027 general elections.
The Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Peter Odo Lifu, had earlier ruled that the parties failed to meet constitutional electoral performance thresholds, such as winning elective offices or securing minimum vote percentages. The court directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cease recognising the parties, accept nominations from them, or allow their participation in future elections. The judgment stemmed from a suit filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators (NFFL), who argued that allowing these parties to remain registered undermined electoral integrity and wasted public resources.
However, the Court of Appeal condemned the lower court’s actions as “the highest form of judicial impertinence” and a direct violation of the judicial hierarchy enshrined in Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution. The appellate panel noted that Justice Lifu proceeded with the case despite an earlier order from the Court of Appeal and while the matter was still pending before it. The justices described the conduct as “judicial rascality” and an affront to the constitutional structure governing judicial authority.
The Appeal Court emphasized that lower courts must obey and enforce decisions of higher courts without question, regardless of personal views. “Courts are enjoined to protect their integrity. This Court has supervisory authority over the trial court. The decision of the lower court to proceed with the judgment despite the express order of this court is a brazen violation of the hierarchy of the courts,” the ruling stated. As a result, the court ordered a stay of execution pending further proceedings.
Presidential candidate of the ADC, Atiku Abubakar, welcomed the decision, calling it a victory for democracy and constitutional order. In a statement on X, he noted that INEC itself had sought the stay, and warned against judicial contradictions and politically charged rulings that have placed the judiciary under public scrutiny. “Any attempt to undermine Nigeria’s hard-won democracy through judicial manipulation is a grave danger to the Republic,” he said, urging the judiciary to redeem itself by upholding the rule of law.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Jibrin Okutepa echoed these concerns, describing the Federal High Court’s judgment as judicial insubordination. He stressed that lower courts have no discretion to disregard orders from superior courts, regardless of their personal views. “The duty under our law is for the lower court to bow in obedience to the order from the higher court,” he said.
Meanwhile, Arise Television anchor Rufai Oseni suggested the deregistration attempt could be a “test run” to gauge public reaction ahead of more sweeping actions targeting major opposition figures like Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar. He warned that more deregistrations may follow and called for urgent judicial reforms to protect democratic institutions.
Political analyst Nduka Odo of Peaceland University, Enugu, warned that if institutions fail to respect constitutional boundaries, no one is safe. “Today, it may be a political party. Tomorrow, it could be a governor, a legislator, or an ordinary citizen,” he said, stressing that democracy is sustained by strong, independent institutions, not politicians. The Appeal Court’s decision offers temporary relief, but the real challenge lies in rebuilding public trust in Nigeria’s institutions.
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