The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday expressed shock over the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, ordering the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties, saying it only became aware of the decision through media reports.

Before a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, INEC urged the court to stay the execution of the judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu and aligned itself with appeals filed by the affected political parties.

Counsel to the electoral body, Haliru Mohammed, told the appellate court that INEC was surprised that the lower court proceeded with the judgment despite an earlier order of the Court of Appeal restraining its delivery.

According to him, the commission was neither notified of the judgment date nor served with any formal communication indicating that the matter would be determined.

“My Lords, we are aware of an order that this court made on May 22, which stopped the delivery of the judgment of the lower court, which was initially reserved for June 5.

“We were not aware of any notice from the court regarding the delivery of the judgment. We only saw it as breaking news in the media,” Mohammed said.

He added that INEC had no objection to the application seeking a stay of execution of the judgment pending the determination of the appeals.

Also addressing the court, counsel to the ADC, Shuaibu Aruwa (SAN), disclosed that the party received notification of the judgment through a WhatsApp message from the trial judge.

Aruwa described Justice Lifu’s action as a challenge to the authority of the Court of Appeal, alleging that the judge proceeded with the judgment despite being aware of the appellate court’s restraining order.

“What the trial judge did was dare this Court of Appeal by insisting that no one could arrest his judgment, even after his attention was drawn to the stay order from this court,” he argued.

The senior advocate urged the appellate court to take what he described as extraordinary measures to protect the integrity of the judiciary and suspend the judgment immediately.

Other parties in the matter warned that allowing the judgment to stand could create uncertainty ahead of by-elections scheduled by INEC for June 20 in six states. They urged the appellate court to exercise its supervisory powers to prevent what they termed a disregard for its orders.
The Court of Appeal continued hearing arguments from the parties and is expected to rule on the applications.

Justice Lifu had ordered INEC to deregister the ADC, Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), holding that they failed to meet constitutional requirements for continued registration.

The court further restrained INEC from recognising the parties, accepting candidates nominated by them or allowing them to participate in the 2027 general elections.

The judgment followed a suit filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators (NFFL), which argued that the parties failed to satisfy the electoral performance thresholds stipulated under Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

The plaintiff maintained that the affected parties neither secured the minimum electoral benchmarks nor won elective positions at the national, state or local government levels, rendering their continued existence as registered political parties unconstitutional.

National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark, has assured party members and supporters that the ADC will participate in the 2027 general elections despite a Federal High Court judgment ordering its deregistration, describing the ruling as a direct assault on Nigeria’s democracy.

Mark’s reaction came amid growing criticism of Monday’s judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the ADC alongside the Accord Party, Action Alliance, Action Peoples Party (APP), and Zenith Labour Party for allegedly failing to meet constitutional requirements for continued registration.

The judgment has drawn widespread condemnation from opposition figures, including African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, and media aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Paul Ibe, who accused the court of undermining multiparty democracy and disregarding a subsisting order of the Court of Appeal.

Receiving a delegation of ADC candidates in Abuja shortly after the judgment, Mark described the ruling as “an arrow fired at the heart of Nigeria’s democracy” and expressed confidence that superior courts would overturn it.

He argued that the decision was fundamentally flawed because the Court of Appeal had earlier ordered a stay of proceedings in the matter and fixed October 27, 2027, for further hearing.

“The judgment cannot stand. It will be set aside because it does not pass the test of law and due process. Our democracy must be protected from actions that seek to undermine the constitutional rights of political parties and the choices available to Nigerians,” Mark said.

The former Senate President questioned how a valid judgment could be delivered when an appellate court had reportedly directed that no further action be taken on the case pending determination of an appeal.

Seeking to calm concerns among party faithful, Mark urged ADC candidates, members and supporters nationwide not to panic over what he described as a temporary setback.

“The ADC will be on the ballot in 2027. I assure all our candidates, members and supporters that this temporary setback will be overcome through the judicial process. We remain resolute and confident in the rule of law,” he stated.

Earlier, Omoyele Sowore had denounced the deregistration order, describing it as undemocratic and inconsistent with the principles of a multiparty political system.

“I totally condemn the deregistration of political parties that have already concluded their primaries and are preparing for general elections. Such an action is undemocratic and unjustifiable in a multi-party democracy. It shall not stand,” Sowore wrote on his X handle.

Similarly, Paul Ibe, a key figure within the ADC and aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, alleged that the judgment was part of a broader effort to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 elections.

According to him, the ruling represented the latest manifestation of attempts to diminish political competition and entrench a one-party system.

“The so-called deregistration of the African Democratic Congress along with other parties by Justice Peter Lifu may yet be the biggest manifestation of Tinubu’s hell-bent bid to undermine the opposition and entrench a de facto one-party state. The judgment is the height of judicial rascality,” Ibe said.

He maintained that the Federal High Court ought not to have proceeded with the case because Appeal No. CA/ABJ/CV/569/2026 was already before the Court of Appeal.

Ibe claimed that a panel of the appellate court comprising Justices Mohammed A. Danjuma, Adebukunola A. Banjoko and Oyejoju O. Oyewumi had directed Justice Lifu to stay further proceedings pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.

“The Court of Appeal had ordered Justice Peter Lifu to stay further action on the matter until the hearing and determination of the a

Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, and an aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Paul Ibe, have condemned the Federal High Court judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties, describing the ruling as a threat to Nigeria’s multiparty democracy.

The condemnation followed Monday’s judgment by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which ordered INEC to deregister the ADC, Accord Party, Action Alliance, Action Peoples Party (APP), and Zenith Labour Party for allegedly failing to meet constitutional requirements for continued registration.
Justice Lifu held that the affected parties violated provisions of Section 225 of the Constitution, which empowers INEC to deregister political parties that fail to secure elective positions at the federal, state, or local government levels.

Reacting to the development, Sowore described the ruling as undemocratic and unjustifiable, particularly as it affects parties that have already concluded internal processes and are preparing for future elections.

In a post on X, the activist maintained that the decision undermines democratic participation and political pluralism.

“I totally condemn the deregistration of political parties that have already concluded their primaries and are preparing for general elections. Such an action is undemocratic and unjustifiable in a multi-party democracy. It shall not stand,” Sowore wrote.

Similarly, Paul Ibe, who serves as media aide to Atiku Abubakar and is a member of the ADC, alleged that the judgment forms part of a broader attempt to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to him, the ruling represents “the height of judicial rascality” and raises concerns about what he described as efforts to push Nigeria towards a one-party state.

“The so-called deregistration of the African Democratic Congress along with other parties by Justice Peter Lifu may yet be the biggest manifestation of Tinubu’s hell-bent bid to undermine the opposition and entrench a de facto one-party state,” Ibe stated.

More significantly, Ibe argued that the judgment ought not to have been delivered at all because the matter was already before the Court of Appeal, which had reportedly directed the lower court to halt further proceedings pending the determination of an appeal.

He cited Appeal No. CA/ABJ/CV/569/2026, in which a panel of the Court of Appeal comprising Justices Mohammed A. Danjuma, Adebukunola A. Banjoko and Oyejoju O. Oyewumi allegedly ordered a stay of further action in the case until the appeal is heard on October 27, 2026.

“The Court of Appeal had ordered Justice Peter Lifu to stay further action on the matter until the hearing and determination of the appeal before it,” Ibe said.

The aide contended that proceeding with the judgment despite the appellate court’s directive raises questions about judicial propriety and due process, warning that the decision could trigger a fresh round of legal disputes ahead of the next electoral cycle.

He further accused the ruling party of attempting to manipulate the political landscape by shrinking the space available for opposition voices.

“Nigerians and the international community can see the level of desperation of the government of the ruling party to either have their way in the 2027 elections or destroy our democracy that was purchased at a huge cost,” he added.

Political observers note that the ruling, if implemented, could significantly alter the configuration of opposition politics ahead of the 2027 elections, particularly as the ADC has recently emerged as a platform attracting interest from several opposition figures.

The controversy is expected to deepen in the coming days as affected parties weigh their legal options and seek clarification on the implications of the alleged Court of Appeal order restraining further proceedings in the matter.

The Atlantic Bell reports that for many critics, the central issue extends beyond the fate of the affected parties to the broader question of whether judicial decisions that potentially narrow political participation strengthen or weaken Nigeria’s democratic credentials.

They argue that the vitality of a democracy depends not only on elections but also on the existence of a vibrant multiparty system that offers citizens genuine political alternatives and safeguards against the concentration of power.