The Court of Appeal in Abuja has nullified the judgment of the Federal High Court that ordered the deregistration of five political parties, restoring their legal status ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a unanimous judgment delivered on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, a three-member panel of the appellate court led by Justice Abba Mohammed held that the trial court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the suit and erred in law by proceeding to deliver judgment despite a subsisting order staying proceedings.
The ruling restores the legal status of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party (A), Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), making them eligible to participate in future elections.
The appellate court faulted the June 15, 2026 judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which had directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the five parties.
According to the Court of Appeal, the trial judge acted improperly by delivering judgment despite an order issued on May 22, 2025, staying proceedings in the matter.
The court held that the stay of proceedings also covered the delivery of judgment and that disregarding the directive amounted to a breach of judicial hierarchy.
Justice Mohammed further ruled that the plaintiff in the case, the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators (NFFL), lacked the legal standing (locus standi) to institute the suit seeking the deregistration of the political parties.
The appellate court maintained that the case ought to have been dismissed on that basis.
“The evidence before the court clearly shows compliance with Section 225(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended); the judgment of the trial judge was perverse,” Justice Mohammed stated while delivering the lead judgment.
The legal dispute began after the National Forum of Former Legislators instituted an action against INEC and the five political parties, alleging that they failed to secure at least 25 per cent of votes cast during the 2023 general elections as required under Section 225(a) of the Constitution.
On June 15, 2026, Justice Peter Lifu ruled in favour of the plaintiff, ordering INEC to deregister the affected political parties and bar them from participating in subsequent elections.
The judgment was, however, challenged by both INEC and the affected political parties, with the electoral commission expressing surprise at the decision and filing an appeal.
By setting aside the Federal High Court’s judgment, the Court of Appeal has removed the legal uncertainty surrounding the status of the five political parties ahead of forthcoming elections.
The ruling is particularly significant for parties such as the ADC and Accord, which have recently attracted prominent politicians and coalition groups preparing for off-cycle governorship elections and the 2027 general elections.
With the deregistration order quashed, INEC is expected to retain the five political parties on its official register and continue to recognise their candidates in future elections in accordance with the law.
