A’Court voids Accord deregistration, party hails democracy victory

The Accord Party has hailed the Court of Appeal’s decision nullifying a Federal High Court judgment that ordered the deregistration of the party and four others, describing the verdict as a major victory for democracy, the rule of law and participatory governance.

The party said the appellate court’s judgment had restored confidence in the judiciary and reaffirmed the constitutional rights of political parties to participate in Nigeria’s democratic process.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the National Chairman of Accord, Barr. Maxwell Mgbudem, said the ruling overturned what he described as an attempt to undermine Nigeria’s democracy through the courts.

“The appellate court verdict is a victory for democracy, rule of law and due process. It has restored sanity in the ongoing electoral process and justified the confidence Nigerians repose in the judiciary as the temple of justice and the last hope of aggrieved citizens,” he said.

Mgbudem described the judgment as “sweet music” to advocates of representative governance, insisting that it demonstrated that anti-democratic forces would always be defeated when citizens defended their constitutional rights.

He alleged that the legal action was designed to frustrate Accord’s participation in the forthcoming August 15 Osun State governorship election and prevent Governor Ademola Adeleke from contesting.

“Just as this grand judicial plot failed, the opposition in Osun State will also fail, and our party will emerge victorious in the election,” he stated.

The Accord chairman maintained that the party met all constitutional requirements for registration and had previously secured electoral victories recognised by law, arguing that it should never have been included in the suit.

According to him, the party had approached the Court of Appeal, which granted a stay of proceedings on May 22, 2026, before issuing a stay of execution on June 16, 2026, pending the determination of the appeal.

Mgbudem also commended Nigerians who, despite political differences, criticised the Federal High Court judgment, describing their stance as a demonstration of patriotism and commitment to democratic values.

He further claimed that Accord’s increasing political influence, particularly in Osun State, had unsettled its opponents, adding that the appellate court’s decision had reinforced the party’s resolve to deepen democratic participation across the country.