From Dispatch Room
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria and lead counsel to the Accord Party, Musibau Adetunmbi, has questioned the legal circumstances surrounding a recent Federal High Court judgment directing the deregistration of several political parties, describing the development as unprecedented in his more than 25 years of legal practice.
Speaking during an interview on *Frontline*, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, Adetunmbi expressed concern over what he described as a conflict between orders issued by the Court of Appeal and a lower court handling the matter.
According to him, he had never witnessed a situation where a lower court proceeded in a manner that appeared inconsistent with an earlier directive from a higher court.
His comments followed a ruling by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove several political parties from the register of political parties. The affected parties include the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party, Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
The court held that the parties failed to meet the constitutional threshold of securing at least 25 percent of votes in previous elections and consequently ordered steps toward their deregistration. The judgment also directed INEC not to receive communications from the affected parties pending compliance with the ruling.
Adetunmbi, however, maintained that the matter remains active before the Court of Appeal and cautioned against extensive public discussion while judicial proceedings are still ongoing.
He explained that, in his interpretation of the judgment, the court did not expressly prohibit the affected parties from political activities or campaigns but instead directed INEC to commence the deregistration process and implement related administrative measures.
The senior lawyer further argued that an earlier order from the Court of Appeal had directed that judgment should not be delivered in the matter until the appeal process was concluded, a development he said raises significant procedural questions that would ultimately be addressed through the appellate process.
Despite the ruling, Adetunmbi reaffirmed the Accord Party’s commitment to pursuing all available legal remedies.
“We are already at the Court of Appeal and will pursue the matter to its logical conclusion within the ambit of the law,” he said.
The development has also generated political interest in Osun State, where Governor Ademola Adeleke recently aligned with the Accord Party ahead of the August 15, 2026 governorship election.
Political observers note that if the court ruling is upheld after the appeals process, it could have significant implications for the electoral landscape. However, legal proceedings remain ongoing, and the final determination of the matter rests with the appellate courts.
The Court of Appeal is expected to hear further arguments in the case as the affected parties seek judicial clarification on the validity and implications of the Federal High Court judgment.
— Newspot Nigeria
