BREAKING! Appeal Court Berates Justice Peter Lifu, Orders Stay of Execution of Lower Court Judgement Deregistering 5 Political Parties

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has ordered a stay of execution on the judgement of the Federal High Court which directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five political parties.

Delivering its ruling on Tuesday June 16, 2026, a three-member panel of the appellate court criticised Justice Peter Lifu for proceeding with the case and issuing the order despite an existing directive from the Appeal Court and the matter already pending before it.

The panel described the action of the trial judge as a violation of judicial hierarchy, using strong language to characterise it as judicial misconduct.

Consequently, the appellate court ordered that the enforcement of the Federal High Court’s judgement be suspended pending further proceedings.

Justice Lifu had, on Monday June 15, 2026, ruled that five political parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action People’s Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), and Accord Party (AP) be deregistered for failing to meet constitutional requirements.

He based his decision on Section 225 of the 1999 Constitution, which empowers INEC to deregister political parties that do not satisfy stipulated conditions.

However, the Court of Appeal held that proceeding with such a judgement in the face of its earlier order amounted to a disregard for the authority of a higher court.

It described the decision of the lower court to proceed with the judgement despite the express order of the appellate court, as a brazen violation of the hierarchy of the court and the 1999 Constitution

The panel stressed that courts must uphold their integrity and respect the hierarchy within the judicial system, noting that any deviation undermines the rule of law.

It reaffirmed its supervisory role over lower courts and ruled that the execution of the judgement remains on hold.