The Court of Appeal in Abuja has adjourned hearing in the appeal challenging the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties until July 7 to allow parties file and exchange their legal briefs.
ABUJA – The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has adjourned hearing in the appeal challenging the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party and three other political parties until July 7, 2026.
The appellate court granted the adjournment on Thursday to allow all parties in the case to file and exchange their briefs of argument ahead of the substantive hearing.
During the proceedings, counsel to the Accord Party, Mr. Musibau Adetunbi, SAN, informed the three-member panel that the record of appeal and the certified judgment of the Federal High Court were only received on Monday before being transmitted to the Court of Appeal.
Adetunbi subsequently requested a brief adjournment to enable the parties complete the filing and exchange of their legal processes.
The application was not opposed by any of the parties, prompting the presiding judge, Justice Abba Mohammed, to adjourn the matter until July 7 for hearing.
Although the senior lawyer sought three days to file the briefs, Justice Mohammed explained that members of the panel would be away from Abuja for a special judicial session, making the July 7 date more appropriate.
The appeal follows a judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, which directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
Justice Lifu held that the affected political parties failed to satisfy the constitutional requirements necessary to retain their registration and participate in future elections.
The court consequently restrained INEC from recognising the parties, accepting nominations from them, or giving effect to their activities in relation to the 2027 general elections.
The judgment also barred the affected parties from presenting themselves as registered political parties.
The suit was instituted by the National Forum of Former Legislators (NFFL), which argued that the affected parties failed to meet the electoral performance thresholds prescribed under Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022, and relevant INEC regulations.
According to the NFFL, the parties neither secured at least 25 per cent of votes in any state during a presidential election nor won the minimum elective positions required under the Constitution to justify their continued registration.
The group maintained that their poor performance in the 2023 general elections and subsequent by-elections rendered their continued recognition unlawful and detrimental to the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system.
INEC, however, opposed the suit, insisting that the parties remained eligible for registration because they won seats in state Houses of Assembly and the National Assembly.
The electoral commission supported its position by presenting certificates of return issued to successful candidates elected on the platforms of the affected parties.
Earlier, on June 16, 2026, the Court of Appeal granted a stay of execution of Justice Lifu’s judgment, restraining INEC from implementing the deregistration order pending the determination of the substantive appeal.
In its unanimous decision, the appellate court held that the trial judge proceeded to deliver judgment despite an earlier directive issued on May 22 ordering that further proceedings in the matter be suspended pending the outcome of an appeal.
The appellate court described the action as a violation of the hierarchy of courts and reaffirmed its supervisory authority over lower courts.
The justices held that the stay of execution was necessary to preserve the integrity of the judicial process while the appeal is determined.
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