Omoaje celebrates Appeal Court victory for Action Alliance, ADC, 3 others

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Action Alliance’s Presidential candidate, Aare Adekunle Rufai Omoaje, a grassroots politician from Ede in Osun State, has welcomed the Court of Appeal’s ruling that nullified the Federal High Court order aimed at deregistering the Action Alliance (AA) and four other political parties.
This was stated in a release from the National Secretariat and shared with the media.
The Ede-born politician described the decision as a victory for democracy, constitutionalism, and the rights of political parties to exist and participate in Nigeria’s democratic process.
In a unanimous judgment issued on Tuesday, a three-judge panel of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, led by Justice Abba Mohammed, overturned the earlier ruling made by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court.
The lower court had ordered Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister AA, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Peoples Party (APP), Accord Party (AP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) based on their performance in the 2023 general elections.
The appellate court found that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case, describing Justice Lifu’s decision as “a nullity,” and noting that “_what the learned trial court did amounted to judicial impertinence or what the Supreme Court called judicial insubordination_.”
The court also criticized the lower court for proceeding with judgment despite an earlier Court of Appeal order to stay proceedings.
Furthermore, it ruled that the first respondent lacked the legal standing (locus standi) to file the lawsuit, rendering the entire case incompetent.
“The evidence before the court clearly shows compliance with *Section 225A of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as Amended)*. That the judgment of the trial judge was perverse,” the appellate court stated.
Reacting to the decision, Omoaje said the ruling reaffirms the rule of law and safeguards the voices of millions of Nigerians who support smaller political parties.
Omoaje emphasized that the ruling ensures AA remains on INEC’s register and can continue mobilizing Nigerians, especially at the grassroots level, ahead of future elections.
Additionally, Barrister Peter Abang, attorney for the APP, described the decision “a victory for democracy in Nigeria,” and added, “in the administration of justice, the hierarchy of Courts in Nigeria must be respected as they establish an unbroken chain of command.”
With the Court of Appeal’s decision, ADC, APP, AA, Accord, and ZLP all continue to be recognized as legitimate political parties in Nigeria.