The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been ordered to halt the deregistration of .African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties by the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja.
INEC had earlier approached the Court of Appeal seeking a stay of execution of the judgment that ordered the deregistration of the ADC and four other political parties.
Recall that Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, had on Monday, ordered the deregistration of ADC, Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) over their failure to meet the conditions for retaining their registration.
But in a unanimous decision on Tuesday, a three-member panel of the appellate court led by Justice A. B. Mohammed, berated Justice Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja for flouting an order it made on May 22, which directed him to suspend proceedings before him.
The appellate court held that Justice Lifu’s action amounted to an affront to the hierarchy of courts.
It held that the lower court’s action was “the highest form of judicial impertinence,” stressing that the Supreme Court previously held that a judge who acted in such manner “is unfit for the bench as it amounts to judicial rascality.”
“Courts are enjoined to protect their integrity. This Court has supervisory authority over the trial court. The decision of the lower court to proceed with the judgment despite the express order of this court is a brazen violation of the hierarchy of the court and the 1999 Constitution.
“This court has the duty to invoke its powers in ensuring that its orders are made.
“The application for stay of execution is here yet granted. The enforcement of the judgment is stayed,” the appellate court ruled.
