Di Court of Appeal don stop di controversial deregistration of African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four oda political parties, wey give opposition reprieve ahead of 2027 general elections.
But while di affected parties welcome di intervention, opposition leaders and rights groups say di controversy don put di judiciary under intense scrutiny and heighten concerns about di state of democratic competition ahead of 2027.
A three-member panel of di appellate court, led by Justice A. B. Mohammed, hold say di judgment delivered by Justice Peter Odo Lifu of di Federal High Court, Abuja, cannot be enforced because of an earlier order of di Court of Appeal staying further proceedings for di matter.
Di decision follow an appeal filed by di affected political parties challenging Justice Lifu judgment directing di Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister dem.
Counsel to Accord Party, Musibau Adetunbi (SAN), tell di appellate court say di trial judge deliver judgment on Monday despite being informed of di Court of Appeal May 22 order staying proceedings. He argue say di action amount to a disregard for di authority of di appellate court.
Adetunbi say him and counsel to di Action Peoples Party (APP) don draw di attention of di trial judge to di appellate court order, but di court proceed to deliver judgment.
However, counsel to di Incorporated Trustees of di National Forum of Former Legislators (NFFL), Yakubu Ruba (SAN), oppose di application by di political parties. He argue say im client no be served with di notice of appeal wey lead to di stay order.
Ruba urge di court to set aside di stay order, contending say dem issue am without fair hearing and e don become academic following di Federal High Court judgment.
Di dispute arise from Justice Lifu judgment on Monday directing INEC to deregister ADC, Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party, Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and APP for allegedly failing to meet constitutional requirements for political parties.
Di judge also restrain INEC from recognising di parties, accepting nominations of dia candidates or allowing dem to participate for di 2027 general elections.
Di suit, filed by di Incorporated Trustees of di NFFL, argue say di parties fail to satisfy di electoral performance requirements stipulated under Section 225A of di 1999 Constitution, including winning elective offices or meeting prescribed vote thresholds.
Di judgment spark concerns over di political future of ADC presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and di use of Accord Party as a political platform by Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke ahead of future elections.
While INEC oppose di suit because di plaintiff lack di legal standing to institute di action, di Attorney-General of di Federation support di call for di deregistration of di parties.
Di Court of Appeal subsequently adjourn di matter until June 25 for di hearing of di appeal.
Former Vice President and ADC presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, welcome di decision of di Court of Appeal, but express concern over wetin im describe as conflicting judicial decisions and politically charged rulings, saying di developments don put di judiciary under intense public scrutiny.
According to am, recent events don shift attention to di judiciary itself, echoing di position earlier expressed by ADC National Chairman, David Mark, say di institution dey now under public examination.
Atiku warn against attempts to undermine Nigeria democratic system through wetin im term judicial manipulation, describing such actions as a threat to di country democratic gains.
Im say di judiciary still get opportunity to strengthen public confidence by upholding di Constitution, di rule of law and di interests of di Nigerian people.
Reacting, di National Chairman of di African Democratic Congress, David Mark, say say di Nigerian judiciary, rather dan di ADC, dey currently on trial over di controversy surrounding di deregistration of di party and four oda ones.
Speaking at di ADC Strategic Communications Retreat for Abuja, di former Senate President criticise di handling of matters relating to di party by Justice Peter Lifu, describing recent judicial actions as unprecedented.
According to Mark, contrary to public perception, di ADC no be di institution under scrutiny. Di ADC no dey on trial. Rather, e be di judiciary wey dey on trial, and di nation dey wait to see how di National Judicial Council (NJC) go handle dis precarious situation.
Im express concern over wetin im describe as unusual judicial conduct, saying e no be something wey im fit believe say Justice Lifu, or any judge for dat matter, go permit imself to be used for wetin im term a hatchet job, even to di extent of disregarding an order of di Court of Appeal staying proceedings for di case.
Mark also fault wetin im describe as contradictory orders by Justice Lifu, alleging say di judge don direct di Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to pronounce di ADC dead and, less dan 24 hours later, put di same party on trial for di Nafiu Gombe case wey im preside over.
Di ADC chairman, however, urge party members no to be discouraged by di development, wey im attribute to alleged machinations by di ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
We go go through all dis turbulence because we dey up to di task. By di time we finish all dis, ADC go come out stronger.
Mark also accuse di administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of attempting to distract di opposition, asserting say di APC-led government dey sinking.
More concerns trail di Federal High Court judgment as di Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Movement for Democratic Renewal (MDR) and Movement for Credible Elections (MCE) warn say di development fit destabilise di political landscape and undermine confidence for di 2027 general elections.
Di groups, for separate reactions to The Guardian, describe di decision as a dangerous intervention coming barely seven months before di general elections, arguing say e fit fuel voter apathy, protests and political unrest.
Justice Peter Lifu of di Federal High Court, Abuja, don order di Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five political parties for allegedly failing to satisfy constitutional requirements under Section 225A of di 1999 Constitution. Di affected parties be di African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party, Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
Reacting to di judgment, Co-Chairman of di Movement for Democratic Renewal (MDR) and Accord Party presidential candidate, Dr Gbenga Hashim, describe di ruling as evidence of wetin im term a systematic effort to weaken opposition politics and shrink Nigeria democratic space ahead of di 2027 elections.
Hashim say di development reinforce concerns wey im don repeatedly express since 2024 about alleged moves to narrow political competition and leave President Bola Tinubu as di dominant contender for di next presidential race.
According to am, recent political developments suggest a deliberate strategy wey dey aim at weakening opposition parties and limiting alternatives available to Nigerians.
Im allege say opposition governors don come under pressure to defect to di ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), while those wey no dey willing to do so face intimidation and political blackmail.
Hashim further claim say after securing several defections, attention shift to destabilising opposition parties through internal crises and leadership disputes.
According to am, di prolonged factional battles wey don plague some opposition parties for recent years be part of a broader effort to weaken alternative political platforms before di next elections.
Im also accuse INEC of operating an electoral timetable wey im claim dey inconsistent with provisions of di Electoral Act 2026, arguing say di commission don fail to comply with a court judgment challenging aspects of di schedule.
Also reacting, NUJ National Secretary, Achike Chude, describe di judgment as unprecedented, noting say im no fit recall a similar decision wey dem take for di middle of an electoral cycle.
Im express concern say di action be initiated by a third party rather dan INEC itself.
According to Chude, di development fit leave many Nigerians feeling politically stranded and fit ultimately trigger voter apathy, protest votes or even civil unrest.
Di court ruling appear to don strengthen fears for some quarters say state institutions, including di courts and INEC, dey use to weaken opposition parties.
Im urge di ruling APC to avoid actions wey fit create political instability and tension for di country.
For im part, Director-General of di Movement for Credible Elections (MCE), Wale Okunniyi, question di circumstances surrounding di suit wey lead to di judgment, including weda dem institute am before or after di wave of political defections witnessed over di past year.
Im also query weda di action originate from INEC or a private litigant.
Okunniyi argue say di affected parties ought not to don deregister if constitutional provisions dem properly interpret.
Im warn say public confidence for di electoral process dey already decline and say di judgment fit further discourage participation for di 2027 elections.
Di electorate dey seriously lose confidence for di processes wey dey lead to di 2027 general elections. Many fit refuse to vote, while oda people fit resort to protests.
However, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Kayode Ajulo, defend di judgment, insisting say Justice Lifu merely apply existing constitutional provisions.
For a statement titled “Deregistration of ADC and Others: Why Justice Lifu Judgment is Constitutionalism in Its Purest Form
