The National Leader of the Action People’s Party (APP), Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, has clarified that the party remains a legally recognized political entity and is not impacted by the recent judgment of Justice Peter Lifu, which ordered the deregistration of five political parties.
Ugochinyere Reacts to Court Ruling
Ugochinyere, who chairs the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), stated that the court ruling has been overtaken by existing judgments from superior courts that affirmed the party’s legal status and continued existence. He emphasized that available court records demonstrate that the APP’s registration and legal standing have been upheld in multiple rulings by the Federal High Court, the Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court.
Multiple Judgments Affirm APP’s Status
According to Ugochinyere, at least three separate Federal High Court judgments found that the APP met all constitutional and statutory requirements for registration as a political party. These decisions were subsequently affirmed by the Court of Appeal and reinforced by the Supreme Court. He argued that under the doctrine of judicial precedent and the hierarchy of courts, decisions affirmed by appellate courts and the Supreme Court remain binding and cannot be invalidated by a subsequent judgment of a lower court.
Ruling Described as Academic Exercise
Ugochinyere described Justice Lifu’s ruling, insofar as it may be interpreted to affect the APP, as an academic exercise with no practical consequence on the party’s legal recognition by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He stated: “The APP’s status as a duly registered political party has already been settled by multiple judicial pronouncements culminating in decisions of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. Those judgments remain binding and enforceable.”
APP Ready for 2027 Elections
He further maintained that the APP remains qualified to field candidates and participate in all electoral activities, including the 2027 general elections, unless a contrary order is issued by a superior court with the requisite jurisdiction. The clarification comes amid public debate over the implications of Justice Lifu’s judgment and its potential impact on Nigeria’s political landscape. Ugochinyere insisted that the existing appellate and Supreme Court decisions affirming the APP’s registration remain the prevailing law and continue to protect the party’s legal status. Consequently, the Action People’s Party remains eligible to participate in the 2027 general elections and all other electoral processes in line with the subsisting judgments of the nation’s higher courts.
