The Court of Appeal has overturned a Federal High Court judgment that ordered INEC to deregister five political parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The other parties affected by the earlier deregistration order are Accord Party, Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
The appellate court declared the Federal High Court judgment “null and void”. It described the ruling as “a nullity” and said the trial court acted with “judicial impertinence” or what the Supreme Court called “judicial insubordination.”
A three-member panel led by Justice Abba Mohammed delivered the unanimous judgment.
The court held that the Federal High Court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the case from the start.
Yhe Court of Appeal ruled that the trial court should not have delivered its judgment. It said the appellate court had already ordered a stay of proceedings, including the delivery of the judgment.
The court also held that the 1st Respondent had no locus standi to file the suit. It therefore set aside the judgment that ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the five political parties.
External Links
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC): https://www.inecnigeria.org/
National Judicial Council (NJC): https://njc.gov.ng/
Court of Appeal of Nigeria: https://courtsofappeal.gov.ng/
