ADC petitions NJC over Lifu

The Nigeria — African Democratic Congress (ADC) has petitioned the Nigeria — National Judicial Council (NJC) against Justice Peter Lifu of the Nigeria — Federal High Court of Nigeria, following the Nigeria — Nigerian Courts of Appeal's decision to overturn a judgment that deregistered the ADC and four other political parties. The Court of Appeal, led by Justice Abbas Mohamed, ruled that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction and that the plaintiffs lacked legal standing, describing the trial judge's conduct as 'judicial impertinence' for proceeding despite an appellate order to stay proceedings. ADC lawyer Alex Adum called the original ruling perverse and urged the NJC to discipline judges who overstep their bounds. The overturned deregistration had affected the ADC, Nigeria — Accord Party, Nigeria — List of political parties in Nigeria, Nigeria — People s Redemption Party, and United Kingdom — Labour Party, and had ordered the Nigeria — Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove them from the register. The appellate decision restores the parties' legal status ahead of the 2027 general election in Nigeria.