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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Elections & Politics

Atiku welcomes Appeal Court stay of deregistration on ADC, four parties

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources In the courts
  • The Court of Appeal has granted a stay of execution on a Federal High Court judgment that ordered the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties.
  • Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar welcomed the decision, calling it a positive development for the parties and democracy.
  • Abubakar criticized "judicial contradictions" and warned that such rulings place the judiciary under public scrutiny and pose a danger to Nigeria's democracy.

Nigeria's democracy received a temporary reprieve as the Court of Appeal granted a stay of execution on a Federal High Court judgment that had ordered the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties. The initial ruling by Justice Peter Lifu had cited the parties' failure to meet constitutional performance thresholds based on the 2023 elections.

I welcome the Court of Appeal’s decision to stay the execution of the Federal High Court judgment seeking the deregistration of our great party, the ADC, and four other political parties. It is particularly significant that INEC itself initiated the application for the stay.

— Atiku AbubakarCommenting on the Court of Appeal's decision via his X handle.

Former Vice President and ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar welcomed the appellate court's intervention, describing it as a positive development. He noted the significance of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) initiating the application for the stay. Abubakar expressed concern over what he termed "judicial contradictions" and politically charged rulings emerging from the courts.

The disturbing spectacle of judicial contradictions and politically charged rulings playing out in our courts has placed the judiciary under intense public scrutiny.

— Atiku AbubakarCriticizing the current state of judicial rulings.

Abubakar warned that these developments place the judiciary under intense public scrutiny, echoing sentiments that "the judiciary itself is now on trial." He cautioned against any attempts to undermine Nigeria's democracy through judicial manipulation, deeming it a grave danger to the Republic. The former Vice President asserted that history would hold accountable those entrusted with dispensing justice if democracy suffers further injury.

Any attempt to undermine Nigeria’s hard-won democracy through judicial manipulation is a grave danger to the Republic.

— Atiku AbubakarWarning against threats to the nation's democratic system.

He urged the judiciary to redeem itself by upholding the Constitution, the rule of law, and the Nigerian people's interests. The stay of execution temporarily preserves the registration status of the ADC, Accord Party, Action Alliance, Action Peoples Party, and Zenith Labour Party, allowing them to participate in the upcoming 2027 general elections.

The judiciary still has an opportunity to redeem itself by standing firmly on the side of the Constitution, the rule of law, and the Nigerian people.

— Atiku AbubakarCalling for the judiciary to uphold constitutional principles.
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Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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