The Court of Appeal in Abuja has ordered an immediate stay of execution of the Federal High Court judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties.
In a ruling delivered on Tuesday, the appellate court restrained INEC from taking any steps to implement the deregistration pending the determination of the substantive appeal filed by the affected parties against the lower court’s decision.
A three-member panel of the Court of Appeal criticised the judgment of Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, describing it as a “brazen disregard for the higher court and judicial impertinence.”
Justice Lifu had, on Monday, ordered INEC to deregister the ADC, Accord Party (AP), and three other political parties over their alleged failure to satisfy constitutional requirements for continued registration.
The appellate court’s intervention effectively preserves the legal status of the affected parties until the appeal is fully heard and determined.
(vitalnewsngr.com)
