The Court of Appeal has restored the legal status of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties after setting aside a Federal High Court judgment that ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister them.
In a unanimous judgment delivered by a three-member panel led by Justice Abba Mohammed, the appellate court declared the lower court’s decision a nullity, holding that it lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the suit.
The court also faulted the Federal High Court for proceeding to deliver judgment despite an existing order of the Court of Appeal staying further proceedings, including the delivery of judgment.
According to the appellate court, the plaintiff lacked the requisite locus standi to institute the action, rendering the entire proceedings incompetent.Consequently, the Court of Appeal overturned the Federal High Court’s judgment and affirmed the continued legal recognition of the ADC, Accord Party, Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
The ruling effectively preserves the legal status of the five political parties and nullifies the earlier directive ordering INEC to deregister them.
