The Court of Appeal has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to suspend the execution of a Federal High Court judgment that ordered the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord, and three other political parties.
In a unanimous decision on Tuesday, a three-member panel of the appellate court set aside the order of Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, ruling that the trial court acted in breach of judicial hierarchy and precedence by delivering judgment in a matter where it had earlier ordered a stay of proceedings.
The appeal was filed by Accord, which challenged the refusal of the Federal High Court to grant its application to join a suit seeking the deregistration of some political parties.
The suit was instituted by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators, leading to the judgment that affected ADC, Accord, and other parties.
The affected political parties had raised concerns that the deregistration order could disrupt their participation in upcoming by-elections scheduled for June 20, including legislative polls across constituencies in six states and the Ekiti State governorship election.
The Court of Appeal’s ruling means the parties remain recognised pending further legal proceedings.
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