Appeal Court Restores ADC, Four Other Parties Ahead of 2027 Elections

Nigeria’s political landscape received a significant boost on Tuesday after the Court of Appeal in Abuja overturned a Federal High Court judgment that ordered the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties, clearing the way for their participation in the 2027 general elections.

The appellate court, sitting in Abuja, unanimously ruled that the earlier judgment could not stand because the case that led to the deregistration order was not properly initiated before the court. The three-member panel, led by Justice Abba Mohammed, held that the lower court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the matter, rendering its decision legally invalid.

The ruling restores the legal status of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), Accord Party (AP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), allowing them to continue their political activities and field candidates in future elections.

The legal dispute began after a Federal High Court ruled that the affected parties should be removed from the register of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), citing constitutional provisions relating to the performance of political parties. The decision sparked widespread reactions within political circles, with the parties insisting that the judgment was flawed and immediately filing appeals.

In its decision, the Court of Appeal agreed with the appellants, holding that the suit upon which the deregistration order was based was incompetent from the outset. The court maintained that where a case is not properly brought before a court, any orders arising from such proceedings have no legal effect.

The judgment effectively nullifies every directive issued by the Federal High Court concerning the deregistration of the five parties and reaffirms their recognition under Nigeria’s electoral system.

The decision is expected to reshape preparations for the 2027 elections, particularly for the ADC, which has recently attracted several opposition politicians ahead of the next electoral cycle.

The ruling also reinforces the principle that political parties can only lose their legal status through procedures that strictly comply with the Constitution and other applicable electoral laws.

Political observers believe the judgment preserves multiparty democracy by ensuring that eligible political parties remain free to participate in Nigeria’s electoral process unless due legal procedures are followed.