ABUJA, Nigeria — The Court of Appeal in Abuja has set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court that ordered the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party, and three other political parties, ruling that the suit was improperly instituted.
In a unanimous judgment delivered on Tuesday, the appellate court held that the Forum of Former Legislators, which initiated the legal action seeking the deregistration of the political parties, lacked the legal standing, or locus standi, to file the case.
The appellate court consequently declared the earlier judgment of the Federal High Court, delivered by Justice Peter Odo Lifu, null and void. The ruling effectively restored the legal status of the affected political parties by setting aside the lower court’s decision in its entirety.
The three-member panel of the Court of Appeal, led by Justice Abba Bello, held that the former legislators failed to establish sufficient legal interest to sustain the action before the trial court. As a result, the court struck out the suit and dismissed the judgment upon which the deregistration order had been based.
In addition to overturning the Federal High Court’s decision, the Court of Appeal awarded N1 million in costs against the Forum of Former Legislators for instituting the unsuccessful legal action.
The judgment represents a significant legal victory for the affected political parties, particularly the ADC and Accord Party, both of which remain active participants in Nigeria’s political landscape. The decision also reinforces the legal principle that only parties with a direct and sufficient interest in a matter can approach the courts for judicial relief.
The earlier Federal High Court judgment had generated widespread political and legal debate, with concerns over its potential implications for Nigeria’s multi-party democratic system. Political observers argued that deregistering registered parties through litigation could significantly alter the country’s political environment ahead of future elections.
Legal analysts said the Court of Appeal’s ruling provides clarity on the issue of standing in election-related litigation and underscores the judiciary’s role in ensuring that constitutional and electoral disputes are brought only by parties with legitimate legal interests.
Although the appellate court has resolved the immediate dispute, legal observers note that parties dissatisfied with the judgment retain the constitutional right to approach the Supreme Court if they choose to challenge the decision further. For now, however, the ruling affirms that the ADC, Accord Party and the other affected political parties remain legally recognized and entitled to continue their political activities in Nigeria.
