Court of Appeal halts deregistration of ADC and four parties pending appeal

 Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has welcomed the court of appeal’s stay of execution verdict on the federal high court judgement that ordered the deregistration of five political parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC).   In a unanimous ruling on Tuesday, a three-member panel led by Abba Mohammed held that Peter Lifu, a federal high court judge, acted in disregard of an earlier order of the appellate court when he proceeded to deliver the judgement.   The panel said the lower court had been directed on May 22 to stay proceedings in the matter pending the determination of appeals filed before the court of appeal.   Reacting to the ruling in a post, Atiku, who is also the presidential candidate of the ADC for the 2027 elections, commended the appellate court’s intervention, describing the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) role in the appeal-seeking process as “significant”.     “I welcome the Court of Appeal’s decision to stay the execution of the Federal High Court judgement seeking the deregistration of our great party, the ADC, and four other political parties. It is particularly significant that INEC itself initiated the application for the stay,” he wrote.   Atiku said the development reflected growing public concern over what he called “judicial contradictions and politically charged rulings” within the judiciary.   He added that the judiciary is now under scrutiny, aligning with the position of David Mark, ADC national chairman, who had earlier said the judiciary was “on trial”.     According to him, any attempt to weaken Nigeria’s democracy through judicial interference poses a serious threat to the country’s stability.   “Any attempt to undermine Nigeria’s hard-won democracy through judicial manipulation is a grave danger to the Republic. If our democracy suffers further injury, history will demand accountability from those entrusted with dispensing justice,” he said.   Atiku urged the judiciary to uphold constitutional principles and the rule of law, insisting that it still has an opportunity to restore public confidence.   The federal high court had, on Monday, ordered INEC to deregister the ADC, Action Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).     The court ruled that the parties failed to meet constitutional requirements for continued registration and participation in elections.   The judge also restrained INEC from recognising the parties, accepting nominations from them, or allowing them to participate in the 2027 general election.   The judgement followed a suit filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators (NFFL), which argued that the affected parties no longer met the legal thresholds required to retain their registration status.    

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Tuesday suspended the execution of a Federal High Court judgment that ordered the deregistration of five political parties, including the African Democratic Congress, ADC. DAILY POST reported that the appellate court granted a stay of execution of the judgment delivered by Justice Peter Odo Lifu of the Federal […] Respite for Atiku, others as Appeal Court halts ADC deregistration

Atiku said the judiciary still has an opportunity to "stand firmly on the side of the Constitution, the rule of law, and the Nigerian people." The post Atiku welcomes Appeal Court order halting ADC deregistration judgment appeared first on Premium Times Nigeria.

Atiku said the judiciary still has an opportunity to "stand firmly on the side of the Constitution, the rule of law, and the Nigerian people." The post Atiku welcomes Appeal Court order staying party deregistration judgement appeared first on Premium Times Nigeria.

The African Democratic Congress, ADC presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has welcomed the Court of Appeal’s decision to stay the execution of a Federal High Court judgment ordering the deregistration of the ADC and four other political parties. Recall that the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu on Monday ordered the Independent National […] Atiku reacts to Appeal Court’s stay of deregistration on ADC, four parties

Atiku Abubakar welcomes the Appeal Court’s decision to stay the deregistration of ADC and four other parties, criticising judicial contradictions. Read More: https://punchng.com/atiku-welcomes-appeal-court-stay-of-deregistration-on-adc-four-parties/