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The Court of Appeal has set aside the Federal High Court judgment that directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five political parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The other parties affected by the now-nullified judgment are the Accord Party, Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
In a unanimous decision delivered by a three-member panel led by Justice Abba Mohammed, the appellate court declared the Federal High Court’s judgment null and void, describing it as a legal nullity.
The court held that the trial court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the suit and criticized its decision to proceed with the delivery of judgment despite an existing Court of Appeal order staying further proceedings, including the delivery of judgment.
The appellate court further ruled that the plaintiff lacked the legal standing (locus standi) to institute the action, making the entire proceedings incompetent.
Consequently, the Court of Appeal overturned the Federal High Court’s judgment, effectively restoring the legal status of the five affected political parties.
SB E-news.
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