The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has welcomed the Court of Appeal’s decision overturning a Federal High Court judgment that ordered the party’s deregistration, describing the ruling as a major victory for justice and the rule of law.
In a unanimous judgment delivered on Tuesday, the appellate court set aside the earlier ruling, affirming that the ADC remains a legally recognized political party under the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act.
Reacting to the judgment, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the court’s decision validated the ADC’s long-standing argument that the case against it lacked legal merit, was unsupported by credible evidence, and should never have resulted in a judgment against the party.
Abdullahi also claimed that the Court of Appeal criticized the conduct of the trial judge, Justice Peter Lifu, alleging that the lower court relied on improperly established evidence in reaching its decision.
He noted that the party considers the appellate court’s findings significant, raising concerns about judicial integrity and questioning whether such conduct should have any place in the nation’s judicial system.
According to the ADC, the Court of Appeal ruled that the plaintiffs lacked the legal standing required to institute the suit because they failed to prove any personal legal interest beyond speculative claims about contesting future elections.
The appellate court also found that the plaintiffs failed to provide sufficient evidence to support their claims, while accepting evidence presented by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) showing that the ADC had fulfilled all constitutional and legal requirements to remain a registered political party.
The ruling further addressed the status of the party’s elected representatives. The ADC said the Court of Appeal rejected the trial court’s conclusion that its lawmakers had defected to another political party, noting that no evidence was presented to support such a claim. The court reportedly accepted affidavit evidence showing that the party still had elected representatives, including three lawmakers from Kogi State.
The party also recalled that the Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), later joined the case seeking the deregistration of the ADC and four other political parties on the grounds that they no longer met constitutional requirements.
However, according to the ADC, the Court of Appeal held that the lower court misapplied the relevant constitutional provisions and reached conclusions that were inconsistent with both the law and the evidence presented before it.
The appellate court ultimately ruled that the ADC satisfies the constitutional conditions for recognition as a political party and remains fully entitled to continue its political activities.
Describing the judgment as a victory beyond the interests of the affected parties, Abdullahi said it reinforces the principle that courts must base their decisions on the law, credible evidence, and respect for established judicial procedures.
He added that the party remains committed to strengthening its internal structures, promoting democratic participation, and providing Nigerians with what it described as a credible political alternative.
