The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approached the Court of Appeal in Abuja, seeking a stay of execution of a Federal High Court judgment that ordered the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties.
The electoral body also expressed support for a notice of appeal filed by the affected political parties, signaling its opposition to the lower court’s ruling.
During proceedings before a three-member panel of the appellate court on Tuesday, INEC, through its counsel, Haliru Mohammed, said the Commission was taken aback by the judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court despite an earlier order restraining the delivery of the verdict.
According to INEC, the Commission was neither informed nor served with notice that the judgment would be delivered, adding that it only became aware of the decision through media reports.
Mohammed told the court that an order issued by the Court of Appeal on May 22 had halted the delivery of the judgment, which was originally scheduled for June 5. He argued that the Commission had no knowledge of any subsequent development authorizing the lower court to proceed with the judgment.
INEC therefore urged the appellate court to grant the application seeking a stay of execution, maintaining that it does not oppose the request by the political parties pending the determination of the substantive appeal.
The case is expected to test critical issues surrounding judicial procedure, electoral regulation, and the legal status of registered political parties in Nigeria.
