The Court of Appeal in Abuja has issued a stay of execution on a Federal High Court judgment that directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five political parties. The affected organizations include the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the Action Peoples Party (APP), the Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party, and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

A three-member appellate panel, led by Justice A. B. Mohammed, strongly criticized the trial judge, Justice Peter Lifu, for delivering the deregistration order despite a subsisting May 22 appellate order instructing him to halt proceedings. The panel characterized the lower court's defiance as a severe breach of constitutional order and judicial hierarchy, referencing past Supreme Court precedents that condemn such insubordination from the bench.

INEC and Legal Representation Express Displeasure

During the appellate proceedings, INEC distance itself from the High Court’s ruling. The commission's lead counsel, Haliru Mohammed, informed the panel that the electoral body was caught off guard by the judgment, having only learned about it through media reports. Consequently, INEC supported the political parties' application to suspend the judgment.

The counsel for the ADC, Shuaibu Aruwa, SAN, further criticized the handling of the case, revealing that the lower court had communicated the verdict via a messaging application. Aruwa described the action as a threat to legal order and called for immediate disciplinary measures against the trial judge.

Stakeholders and Political Leaders React

The appellate court's intervention has drawn widespread commentary from political figures and civic groups:

• Appeals for Judicial Accountability: Representatives from the ADC and APP welcomed the stay of execution but urged the National Judicial Council (NJC) to take decisive action against judges who compromise the integrity of the legal system.

• Concerns Over Public Trust: App leaders warned that inconsistent and contradictory judicial rulings threaten to destroy public confidence in the rule of law, making citizens question the impartiality of the courts.

• Political Allegations: ADC National Chairman Senator David Mark and presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar asserted that the controversy places the credibility of the entire judiciary on trial. Mark also accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of utilizing judicial distractions to weaken opposition platforms and deflect from governance challenges.

Civil Society Petitions the National Judicial Council

In tandem with political reactions, the civil society organization Tap Initiative for Citizens’ Development has submitted a formal petition to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, who chairs the NJC. The group’s Executive Director, Mbasekei Martin Obono, urged the council to investigate whether Justice Lifu deliberately violated judicial hierarchy by ignoring active appellate proceedings. The organization emphasized that preserving strict procedural discipline is vital for national stability and maintaining the public's faith in the justice system ahead of future electoral cycles.