Deregistration judgment: Appeal Court verdict is victory for democracy — Accord

The Accord Party has declared the Court of Appeal's decision to nullify a Federal High Court judgment deregistering it a significant victory for democracy and the rule of law. The party stated that the ruling preserves its place in Nigeria's electoral process and upholds citizens' constitutional rights to associate and participate in politics.

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The appellate court verdict is a victory for democracy, rule of law and due process. It has restored sanity in the ongoing electoral process and justified the confidence Nigerians reposed in the Judiciary as the temple of justice and last hope of all aggrieved citizens.

Accord Party National Chairman, Barr. Maxwell Mgbudem, described the verdict as "sweet music" for proponents of representative governance. He asserted that the judiciary has reaffirmed its role as a guardian of democratic values, sending a strong signal against anti-democratic forces. Mgbudem alleged that the suit seeking the party's deregistration was a deliberate attempt to obstruct Governor Ademola Adeleke's participation in the upcoming Osun State governorship election.

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

Mgbudem further argued that the Accord Party met all legal requirements for registration and had won legally recognized elections, questioning why it was included in the deregistration suit. He attributed the suit to a group of "interlopers" lacking the legal standing to initiate such action. The party chairman detailed the legal battle, noting the Court of Appeal had granted a stay of proceedings and execution pending the appeal's determination.

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Accord is aware that the intention of this frivolous, spurious and defective suit was to distract, prevent and stop the Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, from participating in the August 15 gubernatorial election in the state.

The party expressed gratitude to Nigerians who supported the defense of constitutional democracy, irrespective of political differences. Accord emphasized its commitment to peaceful participation and its confidence in emerging victorious in the Osun polls, drawing parallels to the failure of the alleged "judicial plot."

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It is a fact that our great party met all the requirements for its registration and won elections which were duly presented in court and ought not to have been included in this disgusting suit by the so-called former legislators, a group of interlopers that lack the locus standi to institute it.