• Trial court lacked jurisdiction, suit incompetent, appellate court rules
• Atiku insists 2027 contest must be decided by ballot box
• David Mark: Verdict reaffirms democracy, rule of law
• Adeleke urges supporters to intensify mobilisation ahead of Osun poll
• IPAC seeks NJC probe of judge over nullified ruling
• ADC accuses Tinubu administration of eroding democratic institutions

The Court of Appeal’s decision restoring the registration of five political parties yesterday triggered a wave of political reactions, with opposition leaders declaring it a victory for democracy and saying it could reshape the landscape ahead of the 2027 elections.

The appellate court nullified the judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties for allegedly failing to meet constitutional requirements.

In a unanimous decision, a three-member panel of justices held that the June 15 judgment of the Federal High Court was a nullity, ruling that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the suit.

The appellate court held that the case was incompetent because it was instituted by a non-juristic entity, adding that there was no valid suit upon which the Federal High Court could have ordered INEC to withdraw recognition from the affected parties.

The court further held that the trial judge failed to properly evaluate the evidence before it, noting that evidence that the parties had won elective offices in previous elections was disregarded.

It also faulted the lower court for proceeding with the matter despite an order directing it to stay proceedings.

Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Abba Mohammed held that the Federal High Court ought to have dismissed the suit for want of jurisdiction and merit.

Consequently, the Court of Appeal allowed the separate appeals filed by the affected political parties, declared that they remain duly registered, and awarded costs against the National Forum of Former Legislators (NFFL), which instituted the suit.

The parties affected by the judgment are the African Democratic Congress, Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP) and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

Verdict triumph for democracy, rule of law, says David Mark
THE National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), David Mark, welcomed the judgment, describing the decision as a victory for democracy, constitutionalism and the rule of law.

Mark said the appellate court’s verdict restored confidence in the judiciary and reaffirmed the courts’ role as the last hope of the common man and a dependable guardian of democratic values.

“The verdict is a reassuring reminder that our judiciary can still rise above pressure and protect democracy, political pluralism and the constitutional rights of citizens and political parties,” he said.

According to him, the attempt to deregister the ADC amounted to an assault on Nigeria’s multiparty democracy and an effort to undermine citizens’ constitutional right to freely associate and participate in the political process.

He also commended the Court of Appeal justices for what he described as their courage, impartiality and commitment to justice, adding that the judgment had strengthened public confidence in the country’s democratic institutions.

Mark urged ADC candidates, members and supporters nationwide to remain united and committed to the party’s mission of providing purposeful leadership and good governance.

He added that the legal victory should spur party members to intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Atiku: 2027 polls must be decided at ballot box, not in court
FORMER Vice President and ADC presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, said the 2027 general election should be decided by voters at the ballot box rather than through litigation.

In a statement issued yesterday by his media office in Abuja, Atiku commended the Court of Appeal justices for what he described as their courage, commitment to constitutional principles and dedication to justice.

He said the judgment had reinforced public confidence in the judiciary and strengthened Nigeria’s democratic institutions.

“As the nation advances towards the 2027 general elections, political contests must be decided by the votes of Nigerians, not by contrived lawsuits seeking to achieve in the courtroom what cannot be won at the ballot box,” he said.

According to Atiku, the appellate court’s ruling, together with an earlier judgment by Justice Liman of the Federal High Court in Abuja affirming the David Mark-led National Executive Committee of the ADC, had effectively resolved all legal disputes over the party’s leadership ahead of the next general election.

He added that the decisions firmly established the ADC’s legal status and eligibility to participate in the 2027 polls.

Atiku also said the Court of Appeal clarified that Section 225A of the Constitution should be interpreted disjunctively rather than conjunctively and held that the suit was premature because electoral processes in Osun and Ekiti states were still ongoing when it was instituted.

“The strength of a democracy lies not in the exclusion of political opponents but in allowing the people to freely determine their leaders through the ballot,” he said.

He warned against using the judiciary and other state institutions as instruments of political manipulation, arguing that such actions could erode public confidence in democratic institutions and weaken the country’s constitutional order.

Adeleke urges mobilisation after Appeal Court affirms party’s status
THE Accord Party governorship candidate in Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, urged members and supporters to intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of the August 15 governorship election following the Court of Appeal’s affirmation of the party’s legal status.

In a statement posted on his X account yesterday, Adeleke described the appellate court’s ruling as a victory for democracy and the rule of law, saying it had reaffirmed the party’s readiness for the election.

“Again, Accord is victorious; democracy and the rule of law have prevailed. I congratulate every member and supporter of our great Accord family as the Court of Appeal has affirmed what we have always known, our party remains strong, lawful and fully prepared for the August 15 governorship election,” he said.

Adeleke thanked party members and supporters for their resilience despite what he described as attempts to create confusion and fear over the party’s status.

He called on party leaders, youths, women and other supporters to step up mobilisation across polling units, wards and communities ahead of the election.

“Together, we will secure an even more convincing victory and continue the good work of building a better Osun,” he said.

IPAC hails Appeal Court over parties’ deregistration ruling, seeks probe of judge
THE Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) welcomed the Court of Appeal’s decision, describing the verdict as a reaffirmation of constitutional democracy and the rule of law.

The umbrella body for registered political parties also renewed its call on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to investigate judicial officers whose decisions, it said, conflict with constitutional provisions and have the potential to trigger constitutional crises and erode public confidence in the judiciary.

IPAC’s reaction came hours after the ADC called for disciplinary action against Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, following the appellate court’s decision nullifying his judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission to deregister five political parties.

In a statement, IPAC National Publicity Secretary, Egbeola Martins, said the appellate court’s verdict had restored confidence in the judiciary and reinforced constitutional guarantees of political participation and freedom of association.

“The appellate court’s decision is a courageous reaffirmation of constitutional democracy, the rule of law and the sanctity of Nigeria’s multiparty democratic system.

“This judgment reinforces the confidence of patriotic stakeholders in the Nigerian project and assures citizens that all hope is not lost in our collective quest to build a just, democratic and inclusive nation governed by the rule of law,” he said.

IPAC maintained that democracy could only thrive where constitutional provisions were respected and judicial decisions faithfully reflected the law.

It said the Court of Appeal had once again demonstrated the crucial role of appellate courts in safeguarding constitutionalism and correcting judicial errors capable of undermining democratic institutions.

The council added that holding judicial officers accountable for decisions capable of generating political instability would strengthen public confidence in the administration of justice.

Yoruba Ronu hails A’Court ruling on ADC, says verdict strengthens democracy
THE Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum described the Court of Appeal judgment as a major victory for constitutional democracy and the rule of law.

In a statement yesterday, the President of the forum, Akin Malaolu, said the appellate court’s decision “goes beyond a simple legal victory. It is a reaffirmation that some justices will not permit the abuse of the laws governing the establishment of a political party that has met all qualifying conditions, nor will they tolerate the manipulation of a party’s internal decisions.”

He noted: “We have every reason to believe that certain strange politicians thought they could act above the law and secure the deregistration of any political party at will.”

He maintained that the ruling had strengthened Nigeria’s multiparty democracy by affirming that no political party could be arbitrarily deregistered outside the provisions of the law.

Malaolu also claimed that the judgment could reshape the country’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should now be jittery because the African Democratic Congress stands a far better chance of winning the presidential election, along with others, by a wide margin,” he said.

ADC accuses Tinubu administration of undermining democratic institutions
MEANWHILE, the African Democratic Congress has accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of undermining Nigeria’s democratic institutions and eroding the constitutional principle of checks and balances.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, made the allegation while responding to questions on whether the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government had crossed democratic red lines that should concern Nigerians.

According to Abdullahi, the administration has consistently weakened the constitutional roles of the executive, legislature and judiciary.

“Has this government by any stretch of imagination crossed any line that has raised their concerns and fears about our democracy? Oh, of course, of course, but they are not alone,” he said.

He argued that the principle of checks and balances was designed to create what he described as “positive tension” among the three arms of government to prevent dictatorship.

“But what you find is that the three arms of government now appear to have all gathered together on President Tinubu’s mandate and are willing to do only what the president wants,” he added.

Abdullahi also accused the Federal Government of failing to implement duly passed budgets, describing the alleged action as a breach of the law.

“A few weeks ago, an international organisation told us that there are about N8.8 trillion in unbudgeted expenditure carried out by this government. If that is not an impeachable offence, if that is not a violation of the law, then what is?” he asked.

He further alleged that the administration had repeatedly disobeyed court orders and enjoyed the backing of the National Assembly under Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Questioning the state of the country’s democracy, Abdullahi said the government had undermined opposition political parties and weakened the constitutional safeguards intended to protect citizens’ right to choose their leaders.

He maintained that the administration’s actions were inconsistent with the spirit of the Nigerian Constitution.