Labour Party welcomes court’s halt of party deregistration
The Julius Abure-led Labour Party faction has praised the Court of Appeal for suspending a Federal High Court judgment that ordered the deregistration of five political parties. The party described the appellate court’s intervention as a win for democracy and the rule of law. Obiora Ifoh, the factional National Publicity Secretary, criticized the initial ruling and expressed concerns about judicial standards. The decision temporarily preserves the legal status of the affected parties as appeals continue.
Key takeaways
- The Court of Appeal suspended a Federal High Court judgment that directed INEC to deregister five political parties, including the African Democratic Congress and Accord Party.
- Obiora Ifoh faulted Justice Peter Lifu’s decision, alleging disregard for judicial hierarchy and established legal principles.
- The appellate court criticized the lower court for proceeding despite an earlier restraining order and called it a serious breach of judicial conduct.
- The Labour Party claims to be the worst affected by previous rulings from Justice Lifu and hopes the Supreme Court will ultimately resolve the matter.
- The ruling keeps the affected parties’ legal status intact while substantive appeals are determined, impacting preparations for future elections.
