Atiku welcomes Appeal Court stay of deregistration on ADC, four parties

African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has welcomed the Court of Appeal’s decision to stay the execution of a Federal High Court judgment ordering the deregistration of the ADC and four other political parties.

The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, had on Monday ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to deregister ADC, Accord Party, Action Alliance, Action Peoples Party and Zenith Labour Party.

The court ruled that the parties failed to meet the constitutional performance thresholds under Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution, specifically requirements related to securing at least 25 per cent of votes in certain states or winning seats in the 2023 elections.

However, the Court of Appeal on Tuesday granted a stay of execution on the Federal High Court judgment, temporarily preserving the parties’ registration status ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement posted on his X handle, Atiku said the appellate court’s intervention was a positive development.

“I welcome the Court of Appeal’s decision to stay the execution of the Federal High Court judgment seeking the deregistration of our great party, the ADC, and four other political parties. It is particularly significant that INEC itself initiated the application for the stay,” he wrote.

The former Vice President also criticised “judicial contradictions” and rulings in the ongoing legal dispute, warning that such developments place the judiciary under public scrutiny.

“The disturbing spectacle of judicial contradictions and politically charged rulings playing out in our courts has placed the judiciary under intense public scrutiny.

“As ADC National Chairman, Sen. David Mark, rightly observed, the judiciary itself is now on trial,” he said.

He warned against any attempt to undermine Nigeria’s democracy through the courts.

“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.

“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,” he added.