Deregistration Order: ADC Reports FHC's Justice PETER LIFU to NJC
The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has filed a petition with the National Judicial Council against Justice PETER LIFU of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
The ADC is questioning Justice LIFU’s judgement ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to deregister the party and four others, following a lawsuit by a group, which the Court of Appeal described as a non-juristic entity.
ADC National Legal Adviser, Professor OSERHEIMEN OSUNBOR, who confirmed the development in an interview on television, alleged that Justice LIFU was liable for a serious breach of judicial hierarchy.
Professor OSUNBOR who is a former governor of Edo State, alleged that the Federal High Court judge deliberately disregarded an order of the Court of Appeal to stay proceedings in the matter.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Tuesday, July 27, 2026, upturned the judgment of the Federal High Court directing the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to deregister the African Democratic Congress, ADC, and four other political parties.
Justice PETER LIFU of the Federal High Court in Abuja had delivered the disputed judgement on June 15, 2026, which also affected Action Peoples Party, Action Alliance, Accord Party, and Zenith Labour Party.
However, in a unanimous decision by a panel of three justices of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, the court held that the order issued by Justice LIFU of the Federal High Court on June 15 was a nullity.
In the lead judgment delivered by Justice ABBA MOHAMMED, the Appeal Court further held that the trial court wrongly assumed jurisdiction and issued the order on the basis of an incompetent suit filed by a non-juristic entity.
The Court of Appeal held that suit filed before the Federal High Court by the so-called National Forum of Former Legislators was invalid and could not have warranted the consequential order by Justice LIFU directing INEC to deregister the affected political parties.
The Appellate Court noted that the trial court failed to properly evaluate the evidence before it, and ignored proofs showing that the parties affected had won elective positions in previous elections.
The Appeal Panel also held that the lower court acted in defiance of an order directing it to stay proceedings in the matter and consequently declared that all the affected political parties remain duly registered.
Reacting to the development, the Media Office of former Vice President of Nigeria and Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ATIKU ABUBAKAR, has welcomed the Court of Appeal judgement affirming the legitimacy of the ADC.
The Atiku Media Office says the Appeal Court judgment dismissing the ruling of Justice PETER LIFU of the Federal High Court, which directed the Independent National Electoral Commission to deregister the ADC and four other political parties is a vindication of the ADC and a reaffirmation of the supremacy of the rule of law.