The Court of Appeal in Abuja has ordered an immediate stay of execution of the judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties.
The appellate court restrained INEC from taking any step towards implementing the deregistration pending the determination of the substantive appeal filed by the affected parties.
A three-member panel of the court, in its ruling on Tuesday, also criticised the decision of the Federal High Court, which had ordered the deregistration of the parties.
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja had on Monday directed INEC to deregister ADC, Accord Party (AP) and three other political parties over their alleged failure to satisfy constitutional requirements for continued registration.
However, the Court of Appeal described the lower court’s action as a “brazen disregard for the higher court” and an act of “judicial impertinence,” while granting the application for a stay of execution.
The ruling effectively preserves the legal status of the affected political parties until the appellate court determines the substantive issues raised in the appeal.
Further details are expected.
