The Court of Appeal in Abuja has overturned the judgement of the Federal High Court deregistering five opposition political parties, restoring their legal status ahead of the 2027 general elections and off-cycle polls scheduled for later this year.
In a unanimous judgement delivered on Tuesday, a three-member panel of the appellate court, led by Justice Abba Mohammed, declared the Federal High Court’s June 15 ruling null and void, holding that the lower court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the suit in the first place.
The parties affected by the earlier deregistration order are the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party, Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
The Court of Appeal ruled that the Federal High Court erred by proceeding to deliver judgement despite a subsisting order staying proceedings in the case.
According to the appellate court, the stay of proceedings extended to the delivery of judgement, rejecting the trial court’s position that the matter had already been concluded before the stay order was brought to its attention.
