The Court of Appeal has overturned the Federal High Court's judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five political parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The other parties affected by the now-invalidated deregistration order are the Accord Party, Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
In a unanimous judgment delivered by a three-member panel led by Justice Abba Mohammed, the appellate court declared the Federal High Court's decision "null and void," holding that the lower court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the suit.
The court also ruled that the plaintiff had no locus standi to institute the case, rendering the entire proceedings invalid.
The appellate court faulted the trial court for proceeding to deliver its judgment despite an earlier order of the Court of Appeal directing a stay of proceedings, including the delivery of judgment.
Describing the lower court's actions as a nullity, the appellate court said: "What the learned trial court did amounted to judicial impertinence or what the Supreme Court called judicial insubordination."
The ruling sets aside the Federal High Court's judgment that ordered INEC to deregister the ADC, Accord Party, Action Alliance, Action Peoples Party, and Zenith Labour Party.
