The Court of Appeal has set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court that ordered the deregistration of five political parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The other parties affected by the now-invalidated ruling are the Accord Party, Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
In a unanimous decision delivered on Tuesday July 28, 2026 by a three-member panel led by Justice Abba Mohammed, the appellate court declared the Federal High Court’s judgment “null and void”, holding that the lower court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
The court described the trial court’s action as an act of “judicial impertinence” and “judicial insubordination”, noting that it proceeded to deliver its judgment despite an existing Court of Appeal order directing a stay of proceedings, including the delivery of judgment.
The appellate court further ruled that the first respondent lacked the locus standi (legal standing) to institute the suit, rendering the entire proceedings incompetent.
Consequently, the Court of Appeal nullified the Federal High Court’s decision, effectively restoring the legal status of the five affected political parties.