Five opposition political parties received a major reprieve last week after the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal set aside the June 15, 2026 judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, which had ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister them ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The appellate court declared the Federal High Court’s decision “null and void.”
Justice Lifu had ruled that the affected parties should be deregistered based on their performance in the 2023 general elections.
Dissatisfied with the ruling, the affected parties the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP)appealed the judgment, seeking its nullification.
In its unanimous decision, the three-member panel of the Court of Appeal, led by Justice Abba Mohammed, described the lower court’s judgment as “a nullity,” stating that “what the learned trial court did amounted to judicial impertinence or what the Supreme Court has described as judicial insubordination.”
The court further held that the judgment was perverse and ruled that the Federal High Court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the matter in the first place.
According to the appellate court, the trial judge erred by proceeding to deliver judgment despite an earlier order of the Court of Appeal directing a stay of proceedings, including the delivery of judgment. It also held that the evidence before the court showed compliance with Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The ruling serves as a reminder of the importance of respecting the hierarchy of courts and complying with the orders of superior courts.
It also underscores the need for judicial officers to avoid overstepping their constitutional powers or allowing themselves to be influenced by political interests.
The judiciary must continue to uphold professionalism, judicial discipline and adherence to due process in order to maintain public confidence in the administration of justice.
Given the significance of judicial decisions, especially those delivered by appellate courts, strict observance of constitutional provisions and established judicial procedures remains essential to preserving the integrity of Nigeria’s legal system.
