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Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has welcomed the Court of Appeal’s decision to halt the implementation of a High Court judgment ordering the deregistration of five political parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
In a unanimous ruling delivered on Tuesday, a three-member panel of the appellate court held that Justice Peter Lifu of the High Court proceeded with the matter despite an earlier directive requiring a stay of proceedings pending the determination of appeals before the court.
The panel noted that the lower court had been instructed on May 22 to suspend further action in the case until the appeals were resolved.
Reacting to the judgment, Atiku, who is also the ADC’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election, described the ruling as a welcome development and highlighted the significance of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) involvement in seeking a stay of execution.
“I welcome the Court of Appeal’s decision to stay the execution of the Federal High Court judgment seeking the deregistration of our great party, the ADC, and four other political parties. It is particularly significant that INEC itself initiated the application for the stay,” he wrote.
The former vice-president said the decision reflected growing concern over what he described as conflicting judicial decisions and politically sensitive rulings, adding that public confidence in the judiciary was increasingly being tested.
Atiku also aligned with earlier remarks by ADC National Chairman David Mark that the judiciary was under scrutiny, arguing that attempts to weaken democratic institutions through the courts could endanger Nigeria’s democratic system.
“Any attempt to undermine Nigeria’s hard-won democracy through judicial manipulation is a grave danger to the Republic. If our democracy suffers further injury, history will demand accountability from those entrusted with dispensing justice,” he said.
Atiku further urged judicial officers to uphold the rule of law and constitutional principles, insisting that the judiciary still has an opportunity to strengthen public trust in the justice system.
On Monday, the High Court ordered the deregistration of the ADC, Action Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
