Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has welcomed the Court of Appeal's ruling that stayed the execution of a Federal High Court judgment ordering the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Appeal Court Criticizes Lower Court Judge
In a unanimous decision delivered on Tuesday, June 16, a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, led by Justice Abba Mohammed, held that Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court acted in disregard of an earlier order from the appellate court when he proceeded to deliver the judgment. The panel noted that the lower court had been directed on May 22 to stay proceedings pending the determination of appeals filed before the appellate court. According to the ruling, Justice Lifu proceeded with the case despite being aware of the subsisting order, which the appellate court described as a violation of the judicial hierarchy and an affront to its authority. The court added that proceeding with the judgment in the face of a stay order amounted to “the highest form of judicial impertinence.”
Atiku Warns Against Judicial Manipulation
Reacting to the verdict, Atiku, who is the ADC's presidential candidate for the 2027 elections, expressed satisfaction with the outcome. He noted that it was particularly significant that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) itself initiated the application for the stay. In a statement, Atiku said: “Any attempt to undermine Nigeria's hard-won democracy through judicial manipulation is a grave danger to the Republic. If our democracy suffers further injury, history will demand accountability from those entrusted with dispensing justice.” He added via a social media post: “The judiciary still has an opportunity to redeem itself by standing firmly on the side of the Constitution, the rule of law, and the Nigerian people.”
ADC Hails Legal Reprieve
The ADC had earlier opposed the Federal High Court ruling, describing it as an unconstitutional attempt to use the judiciary to undermine Nigeria's democratic process. In a statement, the party's national spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, condemned the ruling as deeply troubling and contrary to established legal precedents. The Court of Appeal's decision provides a temporary reprieve for the ADC and the other affected parties as they prepare for the upcoming elections.
