Court of Appeal NG voids INEC deregistration order for ADC and four other parties

• The Court of Appeal in Abuja has overturned a Federal High Court judgment directing INEC to deregister ADC and four other political parties.
• The appeal court's decision sets aside the lower court's ruling that had sparked concerns among the affected parties.
• The deregistration of political parties in Nigeria is governed by Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution, which empowers INEC to register and deregister parties on certain grounds.

The appeal court's decision has far-reaching implications for political parties in Nigeria.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has overturned a Federal High Court judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties. The appeal court's decision was delivered on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, setting aside the lower court's ruling that had sparked concerns among the affected parties. The ADC and its counterparts - Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), Accord Party (AP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) - had been ordered to be deregistered by the Federal High Court in a judgment delivered on June 15, 2026.

The appeal court's ruling is significant as it sets aside the lower court's order that had been seen as a major setback for the affected parties. The deregistration of political parties in Nigeria is governed by Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution, which empowers INEC to register and deregister parties on certain grounds. However, the process has often been contentious, with parties challenging INEC's decisions in court. In this case, the Federal High Court had ruled that the ADC and its counterparts failed to meet the requirements for registration under Section 225A of the Constitution.

The appeal court's decision has far-reaching implications for political parties in Nigeria. The ruling may set a precedent for future deregistration orders, and lawyers are likely to scrutinize the judgment closely for potential implications on the registration status of parties. The ADC and its counterparts have been embroiled in a long-standing dispute with INEC over their registration status, and this ruling is seen as a major victory for them. However, the decision also raises questions about the effectiveness of the deregistration process and the need for clarity on the grounds for deregistering political parties.

Lawyers should watch for potential implications on the registration status of political parties in Nigeria, as this ruling may set a precedent for future deregistration orders.

Source: Original reporting via The Guardian