The National Leader of the Action People’s Party (APP) , Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere has said the party remains a legally recognized political party and is not affected by the recent judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu ordering the deregistration of five political parties.

Ugochinyere who chairs the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) while reacting to the decision maintained that the court ruling has been overtaken by existing judgments of superior courts which affirmed the party’s legal status and continued existence.

According to him, available court records show that the APP’s registration and legal standing have been upheld in a series of judgments delivered by the Federal High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

He noted that at least three separate Federal High Court judgments found that the APP met all constitutional and statutory requirements for registration as a political party, adding that those decisions were subsequently affirmed by the Court of Appeal and reinforced by the Supreme Court.

The lawmaker argued that under the doctrine of judicial precedent and the hierarchy of courts, decisions affirmed by appellate courts and the Supreme Court remain binding and cannot be invalidated by a subsequent judgment of a lower court.

Ugochinyere therefore described Justice Lifu’s ruling, insofar as it may be interpreted to affect the APP, as an academic exercise with no practical consequence on the party’s legal recognition by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“The APP’s status as a duly registered political party has already been settled by multiple judicial pronouncements culminating in decisions of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. Those judgments remain binding and enforceable,” he said.

He further maintained that the APP remains qualified to field candidates and participate in all electoral activities, including the 2027 general elections, unless a contrary order is issued by a superior court with the requisite jurisdiction.

The clarification comes amid public debate over the implications of Justice Lifu’s judgment and its potential impact on Nigeria’s political landscape.

Ugochinyere insisted that the existing appellate and Supreme Court decisions affirming the APP’s registration remain the prevailing law and continue to protect the party’s legal status.

Consequently, he said the Action People’s Party remains eligible to participate in the 2027 general elections and all other electoral processes in line with the subsisting judgments of the nation’s higher courts.