BREAKING: INEC Seeks Stay of Execution of Court Verdict Reinstating ADC, Four Other Political Parties
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approached the Court of Appeal in Abuja seeking a stay of execution of the judgment that nullified the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties.
The electoral body also expressed support for a notice of appeal filed by the affected political parties challenging the decision of the Federal High Court.
At Tuesday’s proceedings before a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal, counsel to INEC, Mr. Haliru Mohammed, argued that the Commission was taken by surprise by the judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
According to the Commission, the judgment was delivered despite the existence of a subsisting order restraining the lower court from proceeding with the matter.
INEC further informed the appellate court that it was not notified of the date scheduled for the judgment and only became aware of the court’s decision through media reports.
The Commission urged the Court of Appeal to halt the implementation of the judgment pending the determination of the appeals before it, stressing the need to preserve the subject matter of the dispute and prevent any complications that may arise from the enforcement of the ruling.
The case stems from a Federal High Court judgment that ordered the restoration of the registration status of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties previously deregistered by INEC.
The Court of Appeal is expected to rule on the applications after considering arguments from all parties involved.