The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reportedly moved to halt the enforcement of a Federal High Court judgment that ordered the deregistration of five political parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The development follows Monday’s ruling by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which directed INEC to remove the ADC, Accord Party, Action Alliance, Action Peoples Party (APP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) from its register of political parties. The court held that the affected parties failed to meet constitutional electoral performance requirements.

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According to reports, INEC has filed an application seeking a stay of execution of the judgment pending the determination of appeals and other legal processes arising from the case.

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The court ruling stemmed from a suit filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators, which argued that the affected parties failed to satisfy the conditions outlined under Section 225A of the Constitution for continued registration. The court agreed and ordered their deregistration.

A stay of execution, if granted, would temporarily suspend the implementation of the judgment and preserve the existing status of the parties until the appellate courts determine the substantive issues.

The ruling has significant political implications because the ADC is currently one of the prominent opposition platforms ahead of the 2027 general elections. Reuters reported that the judgment could reshape the political landscape if eventually upheld.

Several of the affected parties have already indicated plans to challenge the judgment through the appellate process. ADC spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi described the ruling as an invitation to political instability and confirmed that the party would pursue all available legal remedies.

For now, the legal battle is expected to continue at the appellate level, where the validity of the deregistration order and INEC’s obligations under the Constitution will be further examined.