ABUJA, Nigeria — Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has welcomed the Court of Appeal’s decision to stay the execution of a Federal High Court judgment that ordered the deregistration of the ADC and four other political parties .
The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, on Tuesday granted a stay of execution on the judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, which had directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the ADC, Accord Party, Action Alliance, Action Peoples Party, and Zenith Labour Party .
In a statement posted on his X handle, Atiku described the appellate court’s intervention as 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 appellate court, in a unanimous decision by a three-member panel led by Justice A.B. Mohammed, faulted the lower court for proceeding with the case despite an earlier Court of Appeal order directing it to suspend proceedings . The court described the lower court’s action as “the highest form of judicial impertinence” and a “brazen violation of the hierarchy of the court and the 1999 Constitution” .
The Federal High Court had ruled on Monday that the five political parties failed to meet constitutional performance thresholds under Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution, including requirements related to securing at least 25 per cent of votes in a state or winning elective seats in the 2023 elections .
However, Atiku also expressed concern over what he termed “the disturbing spectacle of judicial contradictions and politically charged rulings” in the country’s legal system, warning that such developments were attracting increased public scrutiny of the judiciary .
“As ADC National Chairman, Sen. David Mark, rightly observed, the judiciary itself is now on trial. 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,” Atiku stated .
The former vice president urged the judiciary to uphold constitutional principles and the rule of law. “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 said .
The Court of Appeal has fixed June 25 for the definite hearing of the substantive appeal. Following Tuesday’s ruling, the five political parties remain registered pending the outcome of their appeals .
