Nigeria's appellate court has halted execution of a lower court ruling that would have deregistered five political parties. The Abuja division of the Court of Appeal issued the suspension on Tuesday.
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court had ordered INEC to deregister the African Democratic Congress, Accord, Action Alliance, Action Peoples Party, and Zenith Labour Party. He claimed they failed to meet constitutional registration requirements.
Lifu's Monday judgment barred INEC from recognising these parties. It also prevented them from submitting candidates for the 2027 general elections.
But the appellate court disagreed with how he proceeded. A three-judge panel led by Justice A.
B. Mohammed found that Lifu had defied an earlier court order from May 22.
That May order had explicitly told Lifu to halt proceedings in his court. He ignored it anyway.
The appellate judges were scathing in their criticism. They called his action a "brazen disregard" for the court hierarchy and described it as "judicial impertinence."
According to the panel, a judge acting this way "is unfit for the bench." The court noted this amounts to what the Supreme Court has termed "judicial rascality."
Justice Mohammed stressed that courts must protect their own integrity. He noted the appellate court has supervisory authority over the trial court.
"The decision of the lower court to proceed with judgment despite our express order is a brazen violation of court hierarchy," the judge stated. He added that the appellate bench has a duty to enforce its own orders.
The panel unanimously granted the stay of execution. Lifu's judgment cannot be enforced while the appeal proceeds.
INEC had itself asked the appellate court to suspend the deregistration order. The electoral commission told the court it was shocked by Lifu's decision to deliver judgment despite being ordered to stop.
INEC also backed the affected parties' notice of appeal. The commission wants the lower court's judgment completely overturned.
The case began when the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators sued to deregister these parties. Their suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026, challenged whether INEC should remove parties failing electoral performance thresholds.
Those thresholds are set under Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution as amended. They're also reinforced by the Electoral Act 2022 and INEC's own regulations.
Lifu had ruled in favour of the former legislators' group. His judgment ordered the affected parties to stop calling themselves registered political parties nationwide.
Now the appellate court has blocked implementation of that ruling. The substantive appeal by the five parties will now be heard on its merits.
Legal observers say this decision raises serious questions about judicial discipline. The appellate court's harshness toward Lifu suggests deep institutional concern about his conduct.
The case will return to the Court of Appeal for full arguments. Until then, all five political parties retain their registered status with INEC.
