INEC approaches court over deregistration of ADC, Accord Party and others, backing an appeal against a controversial judgment ahead of 2027 polls.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approached the Court of Appeal in Abuja. The commission wants to stop the execution of a judgment that ordered the deregistration of five political parties.

The affected parties include the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party, Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

INEC Backs Appeal Against Judgment

INEC told the appellate court that it supports the appeal filed by the affected parties. According to the commission, it was surprised by the judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu.

Furthermore, INEC said there was already an order from the Court of Appeal that stopped the delivery of the judgment.

Speaking through its lawyer, Haliru Mohammed, the commission said it did not receive any notice about the judgment date.

Instead, INEC said it learned about the ruling through media reports.

“We only saw it as breaking news in the media,” the commission told the court.

Therefore, INEC said it does not oppose the request to stay the execution of the judgment.

ADC Raises Concerns Over Court Process

Meanwhile, the ADC also challenged the ruling. The party’s lawyer, Shuaibu Aruwa (SAN), claimed that the notice of judgment was sent through WhatsApp.

He argued that the trial judge ignored the authority of the Court of Appeal.

According to Aruwa, the judgment could create confusion within the judicial system. He urged the appellate court to act quickly.

In addition, he asked the court to suspend the judgment while the appeal is being heard.

Why The Parties Were Deregistered

Justice Lifu ruled that the five parties failed to meet constitutional requirements. As a result, he ordered their deregistration.

The court also directed INEC to stop recognising the parties. In addition, the commission was barred from accepting nominations from them for future elections.

The ruling means the parties could be excluded from the 2027 general elections if the judgment stands.

What Happens Next?

However, the legal battle is far from over. The Court of Appeal will now decide whether the judgment should be suspended pending the appeal.

The outcome could have a major impact on Nigeria’s political landscape. It may also determine whether the affected parties can participate in future elections.

For now, INEC and the political parties remain united in their effort to overturn the controversial ruling.