The Court of Appeal in Abuja has temporarily stayed a Federal High Court judgment that ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties.
In a ruling on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, a three-member appellate panel directed that Justice Peter Lifu’s decision remain suspended until the appeal against it is heard and determined.
INEC and the affected parties had challenged the High Court verdict, arguing that Justice Lifu issued the ruling despite an existing Court of Appeal order, dated May 22, which they say was intended to pause further proceedings in the case.
The parties named in the deregistration order are the Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
Counsel for the parties had urged the appellate court to grant a stay of execution, warning that enforcing the deregistration could disrupt by-elections scheduled in six states for June 20.
At Tuesday’s hearing, INEC’s lawyers said the commission was surprised the High Court delivered the judgment while the earlier appellate order was still in force.
INEC also told the court it received no official notice of the judgment and learned of it only from media reports. The commission said it supports the notice of appeal filed by the affected parties.
“My Lords, we are aware of an order that this court made on May 22, which stopped the delivery of the judgment of the lower court, which was initially reserved for delivery on June 5.
“We were not aware of any notice from the court regarding the delivery of the judgment. We only saw it as breaking news in the media. We therefore do not oppose the application of the appellant to stay the execution of the judgment.”
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