Atiku Abubakar, former vice-president and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has welcomed the Court of Appeal’s decision to halt the enforcement of a Federal High Court judgment ordering the deregistration of the party and four others.
A three-member panel led by Justice Abba Mohammed had granted a stay of execution of the judgment and faulted the lower court for proceeding with the matter despite an earlier directive from the appellate court.
In a post on X on Tuesday night, Atiku described the ruling as a victory for democracy and noted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) itself had sought the stay of execution.
“I welcome the Court of Appeal’s decision to stay the execution of the Federal High Court judgment seeking the deregistration of our great party, the ADC, and four other political parties,” he said.
“It is particularly significant that INEC itself initiated the application for the stay.”
The former vice-president expressed concern over what he described as conflicting judicial decisions and politically influenced rulings, saying recent developments had subjected the judiciary to increased public scrutiny.
“The disturbing spectacle of judicial contradictions and politically charged rulings playing out in our courts has placed the judiciary under intense public scrutiny,” he said.
“As ADC National Chairman, Senator David Mark, rightly observed, the judiciary itself is now on trial.”
The former vice-president warned against any attempt to weaken Nigeria’s democratic system through the courts, describing such actions as a threat to the country’s constitutional order.
“Any attempt to undermine Nigeria’s hard-won democracy through judicial manipulation is a grave danger to the republic,” he said.
“If our democracy suffers further injury, history will demand accountability from those entrusted with dispensing justice.”
Atiku, however, said the judiciary still had an opportunity to restore public confidence by upholding constitutional principles and the rule of law.
“The judiciary still has an opportunity to redeem itself by standing firmly on the side of the Constitution, the rule of law, and the Nigerian people,” he added.
On Tuesday, the Court of Appeal in Abuja stayed the execution of a Federal High Court judgment that directed INEC to deregister the ADC, Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
The appellate court held that the trial judge acted in disregard of an earlier order directing a stay of proceedings pending the determination of appeals before it.
