Accord Party hails court ruling restoring it and four others to INEC register

The national leadership of the Accord Party has lauded the Court of Appeal for reversing a Federal High Court judgment that had ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the party along with four others. The party's national chairman, Maxwell Mgbudem, described the ruling as a significant triumph for democracy, the rule of law, and due process.

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The appellate court verdict is a victory for democracy, the rule of law and due process.

Mgbudem stated that the appellate court's verdict has bolstered public confidence in the judiciary and reaffirmed the constitutional principles that underpin Nigeria's multi-party democratic system. He emphasized that the judgment sends a strong message that democratic institutions are capable of resisting attempts to undermine constitutional governance. "The appellate court verdict is a victory for democracy, the rule of law and due process," he said, adding that it restored sanity to the electoral process and validated the trust Nigerians place in the judiciary.

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It has restored sanity in the ongoing electoral process and justified the confidence Nigerians reposed in the judiciary as the temple of justice and the last hope of all aggrieved citizens.

The Accord Party had challenged the proceedings before the appellate court even before the Federal High Court delivered its initial judgment. The party expressed gratitude to Nigerians for condemning what they termed "judicial recklessness" and pledged to continue advocating for democratic governance. The Court of Appeal's unanimous decision nullified the Federal High Court's order to INEC to deregister the African Democratic Congress, Action Alliance, Accord Party, Zenith Labour Party, and Action Peoples Party.

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The Court of Appeal ruling is indeed sweet music in the ears of all lovers of representative governance in Nigeria.

The appellate court determined that the lower court lacked the necessary jurisdiction to hear the case. This was because the suit was initiated by the National Forum of Former Legislators, which the court found was not a legal entity with the capacity to sue. Furthermore, the court ruled that no competent suit existed before the trial court to justify the order for deregistration. The Court of Appeal also criticized the Federal High Court for proceeding with the case despite a prior order to stay proceedings pending an appeal, thereby reinstating the legal status of all affected political parties.

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It is also a powerful signal that anti-democratic and reactionary forces will be defeated if citizens stand up for their rights to democratic participation.