By Daily Review Online
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has ordered a stay of execution on the judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu, which deregistered five political parties — the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
The appellate court, in its ruling on Tuesday, described the earlier judgment as a serious case of judicial overreach and faulted the trial court for proceeding despite an existing order from the appellate court.
According to the court, the action of the lower court amounted to “the highest form of judicial impertinence,” noting that Justice Lifu brazenly disregarded a subsisting order issued by the Court of Appeal.
The ruling effectively suspends the implementation of the deregistration judgment pending the determination of the substantive appeal.
The development comes as a major relief to the affected political parties, allowing them to continue their operations and political activities while the legal battle over their status is being resolved.
The case has generated significant public interest, with observers noting its potential implications for Nigeria’s multi-party democratic system and the future participation of smaller political parties in the country’s electoral process.