The Court of Appeal in Abuja reverses a Federal High Court decision that had ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties. Multiple outlets report that the appellate court sets aside and nullifies the June judgment, which had directed INEC to remove the parties for allegedly failing to meet constitutional requirements.
The appellate court also addresses procedural issues in the deregistration case. Reports say the court holds that the suit was not properly before the Federal High Court: it rules that the applicants lacked locus standi, and that the Abuja high court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the case. Because of these findings, the consequential order for deregistration is declared without legal basis.
Parties named in the coverage include the ADC and Accord Party, along with three other political parties. Premium Times adds that the appellate decision is received as positive for ADC’s presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar and for Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, who is seeking re-election on the Accord platform in the 15 August off-cycle governorship election.
