The Court of Appeal in Abuja has ordered an immediate stay of execution of the Federal High Court judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties.

In its ruling, the appellate court directed INEC not to proceed with the deregistration pending the determination of the substantive appeal filed by the affected parties.

The development comes barely a day after Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the electoral commission to deregister ADC, Accord Party (AP), and three other political parties for allegedly failing to meet constitutional requirements for continued registration.

The Court of Appeal, in a decision delivered by a three-member panel, faulted the lower court’s action, describing it as a “brazen disregard for the higher court” and an act of “judicial impertinence.”

The ruling effectively preserves the legal status of the affected parties pending the final determination of the appeal and prevents INEC from taking any steps toward their deregistration.