By Yemi Oyeyemi
A rare judicial showdown unfolded in Abuja on Monday as Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court pressed ahead with a landmark judgment deregistering the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party, and three other political parties, despite a subsisting order from the Court of Appeal directing him to halt proceedings.
The decision has triggered fresh debate within legal and political circles, coming barely weeks after a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal instructed the trial judge to suspend all action on the case pending the determination of an interlocutory appeal.
On May 22, 2026, Justices Mohammed Danjuma, Adebukola Banjoko, and Oyejoju Oyewumi unanimously ordered Justice Lifu to put the matter on hold. In a Certified True Copy of the enrolled order, the appellate court emphasized that proceedings must be stayed until issues raised in an appeal filed by the Accord Party were fully resolved.
The controversy stemmed from an application by Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, who sought to be joined as a defendant in the suit filed by a group of former lawmakers seeking the deregistration of several political parties.
Adeleke argued that he had a direct and substantial interest in the matter, having adopted the Accord Party as the platform for his bid for re-election in the August 15 governorship election in Osun State.
However, on April 27, Justice Lifu dismissed the governor’s application, ruling that he could not be joined in the suit.
Determined to challenge the decision, Adeleke, through his counsel, Musibau Adetunbi (SAN), approached the Court of Appeal. He maintained that, as a governorship candidate under the Accord Party banner, the outcome of the case could significantly affect his political future.
After considering the arguments, the appellate court sided with the governor’s position, ordering Justice Lifu to refrain from taking further steps in the matter while the appeal was being heard. The court subsequently fixed October 27 for the hearing of the interlocutory appeal.
But the legal battle took an unexpected turn.
According to reports, when the enrolled order and notice of appeal were served on Justice Lifu, the judge dismissed the move, describing it as an attempt to stall or frustrate the delivery of judgment.
Although he had earlier postponed judgment indefinitely, Justice Lifu made a stunning reversal on Monday. Ignoring the appellate court’s directive to stay proceedings, he proceeded to deliver his verdict, effectively striking five political parties from Nigeria’s political register.
The judgment has set the stage for what could become a major constitutional confrontation over judicial authority, with Nigerians closely watching the next move by the Court of Appeal and the affected political parties.