The Court of Appeal in Abuja has halted the implementation of a Federal High Court judgment that ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties.
In a unanimous ruling delivered by a three-member panel, the appellate court faulted the lower court for proceeding to deliver its judgment despite an existing order suspending further action in the matter. The judges described the move as a violation of established judicial procedures and the hierarchy of the courts.
According to the appellate court, the conduct of the trial court amounted to a clear disregard for constitutional principles and the authority of superior courts. The panel stated that the action represented a serious breach of judicial discipline and fell within the category of conduct previously condemned by the Supreme Court as judicial misconduct.
While delivering the decision, the court emphasized its supervisory powers over lower courts and granted the application for a stay of execution, effectively suspending the enforcement of the judgment pending the determination of the appeal. The judges warned that ignoring orders from higher courts weakens public confidence in the judiciary and could be viewed as judicial recklessness.
During the proceedings, counsel to INEC, Haliru Mohammed, informed the court that the electoral commission had not been officially served with the judgment and only became aware of it through media reports.
Representing the ADC, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Shuaibu Aruwa urged the appellate court to halt the implementation of the ruling, arguing that allowing it to stand would pose a serious threat to constitutional governance and the integrity of the electoral process.
As a result of the Court of Appeal’s intervention, the deregistration of the ADC, Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) has been temporarily suspended until the substantive appeals are fully heard and determined.