Appeal Court Reverses Deregistration of ADC, Accord, Three Other Political Parties

 

By Abel Chigozie 

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has overturned the judgment of the Federal High Court that ordered the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) , Accord and three other political parties by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), restoring their legal status ahead of the 2027 general elections. 

In a unanimous judgment delivered on Tuesday, a three-member panel of the appellate court held that the Federal High Court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the suit that led to the deregistration order.

The appellate court consequently set aside the earlier judgment and ruled in favour of the affected political parties.

The parties affected by the ruling are the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party (AP), Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), all of which had challenged the lower court's decision.

The legal battle began after the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered INEC to deregister the five parties for allegedly failing to comply with constitutional requirements governing the operation of political parties in Nigeria. The judgment also barred them from participating in future elections, including the 2027 general elections. 

However, dissatisfied with the ruling, the affected parties appealed the decision, arguing that the lower court lacked the authority to issue such an order and that due legal procedures were not followed.

In its judgment, the Court of Appeal agreed with the appellants, nullifying the Federal High Court's decision and effectively restoring the parties' recognition by INEC.

The judgment is seen as a significant relief for the ADC, which has recently emerged as a major platform for opposition coalition politics ahead of the 2027 elections. Supporters of the party described the ruling as a victory for democracy and political pluralism in Nigeria.