The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has lambasted Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, over the the judgement delivered on Monday, which ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to deregister five political parties.

The Appeal Court said Justice Lifu exhibited judicial rascality by going ahead to hear and make the order despite the order of the Court of Appeal and the pendency of the matter before the court.

The court ordered a stay of the execution of the judgement.

Justice Lifu ordered the de-registration the political parties.

The parties affected are African Democratic Congress, ADC, Actions People’s Party, APP, Action Alliance, AA, Zenith Labour Party, ZLP and Accord Party, AP.

The High Court said the parties did not meet the Constitutional threshold of section 225 of the 1999 Constitution

Section 225 of the 1999 Constitution gives the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the power to deregister parties that failed to meet the constitutional threshold.

Details later