In a move that would potray the agency as not partisan, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal Abuja, demanding a stay of execution of the Federal High Court judgment that ordered the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, and four other political parties.
In the approach, INEC also threw its weight behind a notice of appeal lodged by the affected political parties.
Addressing a three-member panel of the appellate court on Tuesday, the commission through its team of lawyers led by Mr Haliru Mohammed, expressed shock at the decision of Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja to deliver the judgment despite an order that stopped him from doing so.
The electoral body, pointed out that it was not notified that the judgment would be delivered, revealing that it only heard about the court’s decision through media reports.
“My Lords, we are aware of an order that this court made on May 22, which stopped the delivery of the judgment of the lower court, which was initially reserved for delivery on June 5.
“We were not aware of any notice from the court regarding the delivery of the judgment. We only saw it as breaking news in the media.
“We therefore do not oppose the application of the appellant to stay the execution of the judgment,” the Commission said.
Recall, Justice Lifu had on Monday delivered a judgment ordering INEC to de-register ADC, Accord Party and two others, a pronouncemet that has generated a lot of tension and reactions.
