By Our Correspondent
Abuja, Nigeria –June 16, 2026 (Series News Online)- The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, on Tuesday granted an order of stay of execution, suspending the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division, delivered on Monday, June 15, 2026, which directed the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to deregister the African Democratic Congress, ADC, and four other political parties.
The appellate court made the order following a motion on notice for stay of execution pending the hearing and determination of the substantive appeal filed by the affected political parties.
“The Court of Appeal today suspended the judgment of the Federal High Court delivered yesterday ordering INEC to deregister ADC and four other political parties, pending the determination of the appeal,” the three-man panel stated.
“The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday ordered INEC to deregister ADC party and four other political parties over alleged failure to meet statutory requirements for registration,” the trial court had ruled.
Dissatisfied with the judgment, the affected parties, through their legal representatives, filed a notice of appeal and a motion for stay of execution. The motion was argued before a panel of the Court of Appeal on Tuesday.
“The appellants were represented by senior counsel who moved the motion for stay of execution, while counsel for INEC, the 1st Respondent, appeared and made submissions on behalf of the Commission,” court records indicated.
After considering arguments of counsel on both sides, the Court of Appeal granted the application for stay of execution. The court held that the grant was to preserve the -res- and maintain the status quo ante pending the determination of the substantive appeal.
“The order of the Court of Appeal effectively suspends the deregistration directive and maintains the existing registration status of the affected political parties pending the hearing and determination of the appeal,” the appellate court stated.
The stay of execution temporarily restores ADC and the four other parties to their pre-judgment status, permitting them to continue to function as registered political parties until the appeal is determined on its merits.
“The suspension means INEC cannot proceed with deregistration of ADC and the four other parties until the Court of Appeal decides on the substantive appeal,” a legal analyst stated.
Representatives of INEC were present during the proceedings and acknowledged the appellate court’s directive for compliance.
“The Commission has taken note of the order of the Court of Appeal suspending the judgment of the Federal High Court and will act in accordance with the directive of the appellate court,” an INEC official stated.
The Court of Appeal did not fix a date for the hearing of the substantive appeal at the time of the ruling. Legal practitioners expect that parties will be served with hearing notices in due course.
“The date for hearing of the substantive appeal has not been announced by the court as of press time,” our correspondent reported.
The development preserves the political and electoral rights of the affected parties pending judicial resolution of the issues raised on appeal.
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Judiciary