Wahala: How Justice Lifu Overrode an Appeal Court Stay to Deregister Atiku, Adeleke‑Linked Political Parties
Fresh controversy has trailed Monday’s judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordering the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party, Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), following claims that the court proceeded despite a subsisting Court of Appeal order directing a stay of proceedings.
Justice Peter Lifu delivered the judgment on Monday, ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the five political parties for allegedly failing to meet constitutional requirements for continued registration.
However, the judgment came despite an earlier directive by the Court of Appeal in Abuja restraining the Federal High Court from taking further steps in the matter pending the determination of an appeal filed by the Accord Party.
A three-member panel of the appellate court comprising Justices Mohammed Danjuma, Adebukola Banjoko, and Oyejoju Oyewumi had, on May 22, 2026, unanimously directed Justice Lifu to stay proceedings in the suit until the appeal before it was resolved.
According to a Certified True Copy of the enrolled order issued by the appellate court, the Federal High Court was specifically restrained from proceeding further with the matter pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.
The appeal arose from an application filed by Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State through the Accord Party seeking to be joined as a defendant in the suit instituted by the National Forum of Former Legislators.
Governor Adeleke had argued that he possessed a direct and substantial interest in the matter, having emerged as the Accord Party’s governorship candidate for the August 15, 2026 governorship election in Osun State.
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The governor maintained that the outcome of the suit could significantly affect his political future and electoral aspirations and therefore sought to participate in the proceedings to defend his interests.
However, Justice Lifu, in a ruling delivered on April 27, rejected the application and declined to join Adeleke as a party in the suit.
Dissatisfied with the decision, Adeleke, through his counsel, Chief Musibau Adetunbi (SAN), approached the Court of Appeal, challenging the refusal of the Federal High Court to grant him leave to participate in the case.
After considering submissions from the parties, the appellate court held that the issues raised by the governor deserved judicial examination and consequently directed the trial court to halt further proceedings pending the determination of the interlocutory appeal.
The Court of Appeal subsequently fixed October 27, 2026, for hearing of the appeal.
Despite the appellate court’s directive, sources familiar with the proceedings disclosed that when the certified enrolled order and notice of appeal were served on the Federal High Court, Justice Lifu reportedly declined to suspend proceedings, maintaining that the move was intended to delay or frustrate the delivery of judgment.
Although the judge had earlier reserved judgment indefinitely, he eventually fixed Monday for the ruling and proceeded to deliver the judgment ordering the deregistration of the five political parties.
The development has sparked legal debate over the implications of the judgment, particularly in light of the subsisting appellate court order and the pending appeal.
The ruling carries significant political consequences for the affected parties and their candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections and forthcoming off-cycle governorship elections.
Among those directly impacted are former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who recently emerged as the presidential candidate of the ADC, and Governor Adeleke, whose re-election bid in Osun State is tied to the Accord Party platform.
Legal analysts predict that the latest development could trigger further appellate proceedings and potentially set the stage for a major judicial showdown over the status of the affected political parties and the validity of the Federal High Court’s judgment.
By PRNigeria
