INEC Seeks Stay of Execution of Judgment on Deregistration of ADC, Accord, Three Others
By Poet of Afrique Reporter
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approached the Court of Appeal in Abuja, seeking a stay of execution of a judgment that ordered the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties.
The electoral commission also expressed support for a notice of appeal filed by the affected political parties against the judgment.
Speaking before a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal on Tuesday, counsel to INEC, Mr. Haliru Mohammed, said the commission was surprised by the decision of Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, to deliver the judgment despite an earlier order restraining the lower court from doing so.
According to Mohammed, the appellate court had on May 22 ordered that the judgment, which was initially scheduled for delivery on June 5, should not be delivered pending further proceedings.
"My Lords, we are aware of an order that this court made on May 22, which stopped the delivery of the judgment of the lower court, which was initially reserved for delivery on June 5.
"We were not aware of any notice from the court regarding the delivery of the judgment. We only saw it as breaking news in the media.
"We therefore do not oppose the application of the appellant to stay the execution of the judgment," he told the court.
Similarly, counsel to the African Democratic Congress, Mr. Shuaibu Aruwa (SAN), informed the appellate court that Justice Lifu notified the party of the judgment delivery through a WhatsApp message.
The development marks a new twist in the legal battle surrounding the status of the affected political parties, as the Court of Appeal considers the applications before it.
The case was subsequently adjourned for further proceedings.
Source: Court proceedings at the Court of Appeal, Abuja.
Reporting: Poet of Afrique Reporter.

Comments