Just In: Legal Tug-of-War: Appeal Court Overturns High Court Ruling on INEC Party Deregistration

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has faulted a ruling of the Federal High Court delivered by Justice Peter Lifu, which directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five political parties.

The appellate court described the decision as “judicial rascality,” alleging that it was made despite an existing order of the Court of Appeal and while the matter was still pending before it.

It subsequently issued a stay of execution on the judgment, thereby suspending enforcement of the order pending determination of the appeal.

Persecondnews had reported that five political parties, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Allied Peoples Movement (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), were earlier listed for deregistration following a Federal High Court order in Abuja.

Justice Peter Lifu had directed INEC to deregister the parties after ruling that they failed to meet mandatory electoral performance benchmarks required under the law.