Abuja, July 28, 2026 — Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has welcomed the Court of Appeal’s landmark judgment that set aside the Federal High Court’s order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties.
In a statement released on Tuesday by the Atiku Media Office, Atiku, also known as the Waziri Adamawa, congratulated the Justices of the Court of Appeal for their courage, fidelity to the Constitution, and commitment to justice.
He described the ruling as a reassuring affirmation that the judiciary remains the last hope of the common man and the ultimate guardian of constitutional democracy.
“At a time when many Nigerians are anxious about the future of democratic governance, the Court has demonstrated that justice, when courageously dispensed, remains the strongest defence against arbitrariness,” the statement said.
Key Grounds for Nullifying the Lower Court Judgment
The Court of Appeal, in a unanimous decision by a three-member panel led by Justice Abba Mohammed, held that the June 15, 2026 judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court was a nullity. It was rendered in disobedience to a subsisting order of the appellate court.
The appellate court further ruled that the plaintiffs (the National Forum of Former Legislators) lacked the locus standi to institute the action, describing their claims as speculative and legally unsustainable. It clarified that Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) must be interpreted disjunctively, not conjunctively. Since the Osun and Ekiti election cycles were still active when the suit was filed, the action was premature.
The Court of Appeal also faulted the lower court for ignoring uncontroverted affidavit evidence from INEC confirming that the affected parties had met all constitutional and statutory requirements. It described the Federal High Court’s decision as perverse.
Affected Parties and Implications
The parties affected by the now-nullified deregistration order were the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP). The appellate court declared that all remain duly registered and restored their legal status.
Atiku noted that, combined with a separate judgment by Justice Liman of the Federal High Court in Abuja affirming the election of the Senator David Mark-led executive committee, the ADC has cleared all legal hurdles. “The party has finally navigated its way to the ballot for the 2027 general elections, as there’s no suit pending that challenges its leadership again,” he stated.
Background to the Legal Battle
The Federal High Court had earlier ordered INEC to deregister the parties for allegedly failing to meet performance thresholds under Section 225A of the Constitution. However, the Court of Appeal had previously issued a stay of proceedings and later stayed execution of the judgment, criticizing Justice Lifu for proceeding despite its directives.
This latest ruling provides significant relief to opposition parties and underscores ongoing debates about political pluralism and the role of the judiciary in safeguarding Nigeria’s multi-party democracy ahead of the 2027 elections.
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