Court Suspends Judgement in Suit Seeking ADC, Accord, Others Deregistration

The Federal High Court in Abuja has indefinitely suspended its judgement in a suit seeking the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party, Action Alliance (AA), and other political parties over alleged constitutional violations.

Justice Peter Lifu had fixed June 5, 2026, for judgement in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026, which was filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and several political parties as defendants.

However, when the matter was called on Friday, a court official announced that the judgement would not be delivered as scheduled and that a new date would be communicated to all parties in due course.

The indefinite adjournment came after Accord Party secured a stay of proceedings from the Court of Appeal on May 29, 2026, effectively stalling the judgement that was expected to determine the fate of the affected political parties.

Reacting to the development, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators, Raphael Igbokwe, expressed disappointment over the appellate court’s decision to grant the stay of proceedings.

“We are concerned that a matter which had reached the stage of judgement has now been stalled through a stay of proceedings,” Igbokwe told newsmen.

“In practical terms, it amounts to an arrest of judgement. Nevertheless, we remain committed to pursuing all lawful avenues to ensure that the issues raised in this case are resolved in the interest of strengthening Nigeria’s democracy and advancing constitutional and electoral jurisprudence.”

Igbokwe further disclosed that the forum had already challenged the Court of Appeal ruling by filing an appeal against the stay of proceedings at the Supreme Court.

The plaintiff had argued that the affected political parties failed to meet constitutional requirements relating to electoral spread and performance, contending that political parties are required to secure at least 25 percent of votes in prescribed elections to remain relevant under the law.

The forum had urged the court to order the deregistration of the parties, insisting that none of the defendants had effectively countered the argument.

Justice Lifu had, on May 20, dismissed applications for stay of proceedings and joinder filed by some politicians, including Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and others seeking to be joined in the suit.

At the time, the judge held that granting a stay of proceedings at that stage would cause hardship to litigants, especially as political parties were already expected to submit names of candidates ahead of upcoming elections.

With the Court of Appeal’s stay now in effect and the Supreme Court yet to rule on the appeal, the political parties facing potential deregistration have been granted a temporary reprieve from the legal axe.