Omoaje Hails Court of Appeal Judgment Nullifying Deregistration of Action Alliance, Four Other Political Parties

By Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Action Alliance (AA) presidential candidate, Aare Adekunle Rufai Omoaje, has welcomed the judgment of the Court of Appeal nullifying the Federal High Court’s order directing the deregistration of the Action Alliance and four other political parties.

Omoaje, a grassroots politician from Ede in Osun State, described the appellate court’s decision as a victory for democracy, constitutionalism, and the rights of political parties to exist and participate in Nigeria’s democratic process.

His position was contained in a statement issued by the National Secretariat and made available to journalists.

In a unanimous judgment delivered on Tuesday, a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, led by Justice Abba Mohammed, set aside the earlier judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court.

The lower court had ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the Action Alliance (AA), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Peoples Party (APP), Accord Party (AP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) over their performance in the 2023 general elections.

However, the Court of Appeal held that the Federal High Court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the suit, describing Justice Lifu’s judgment as “a nullity.”

The appellate court further stated that “what the learned trial court did amounted to judicial impertinence, or what the Supreme Court has described as judicial insubordination.”

The court also faulted the lower court for proceeding with the case despite an earlier order of the Court of Appeal directing a stay of proceedings.

It further held that the first respondent lacked the requisite legal standing (locus standi) to institute the suit, rendering the entire action incompetent.

According to the appellate court, “The evidence before the court clearly shows compliance with Section 225A of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). The judgment of the trial judge was perverse.”

Reacting to the judgment, Omoaje said the decision reaffirmed the rule of law and protected the voices of millions of Nigerians who support smaller political parties.

He noted that the ruling ensures that the Action Alliance remains on INEC’s register of political parties and can continue mobilising Nigerians, particularly at the grassroots, ahead of future elections.

Also reacting, counsel to the Action Peoples Party (APP), Barrister Peter Abang, described the judgment as “a victory for democracy in Nigeria.”

He added that “in the administration of justice, the hierarchy of courts in Nigeria must be respected, as it establishes an unbroken chain of judicial authority.”

The Court of Appeal’s decision means that the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) remain duly recognised political parties under Nigeria’s electoral system.