INEC Appeals Court Order to Deregister ADC and Four Other Parties
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has filed an appeal against a federal high court judgment that ordered the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties. The electoral body is seeking a stay of execution of the ruling, which was delivered on Monday, June 15, 2026, by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Background of the Case
The court had ordered INEC to deregister the ADC, Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) for failing to meet the required electoral performance in the 2023 general elections and subsequent by-elections. The ruling came as a surprise to INEC, which claimed it was not properly notified of the judgment and only learned of it through media reports.
INEC's Position
On Tuesday, June 16, INEC appeared before a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal in Abuja to argue for a stay of execution. The commission's legal team, led by Haliru Mohammed, expressed surprise at the lower court's decision, noting that a restraining order issued on May 22, 2026, had barred Justice Lifu from delivering the judgment. INEC stated that it was unaware of any notice regarding the delivery of the judgment and only saw it as breaking news in the media. Consequently, the commission did not oppose the application of the political parties to stay the execution of the judgment.
ADC's Reaction
The ADC has strongly opposed the deregistration order, describing it as an unconstitutional attempt to undermine Nigeria's democratic process. In a statement, the party's national spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, condemned the ruling, arguing that it contradicts established legal precedents and even conflicts with positions previously taken by INEC on the issue of political party deregistration.
Next Steps
The Court of Appeal is expected to rule on the stay of execution application. Meanwhile, the political parties involved continue to operate pending the outcome of the appeal. The case has significant implications for Nigeria's political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections, as the ADC has emerged as a key opposition party.
