By Stephen Simon
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has adjourned until July 7 the hearing of appeals filed by five political parties seeking to overturn a Federal High Court judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister them.
A three-member panel of the appellate court, led by Justice Abba Mohammed, fixed the new date after parties informed the court that they required more time to file and exchange their briefs of argument to pave the way for the hearing of the substantive appeals.
The affected political parties are the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
The appeal challenges the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which ordered INEC to deregister the parties on the grounds that they allegedly failed to meet the constitutional requirements for continued registration as political parties.
The appellate court had earlier stayed the execution of the judgment pending the determination of the appeals, thereby allowing the parties to continue operating until the legal dispute is resolved.
The July 7 hearing is expected to provide the parties with the opportunity to argue why the lower court’s decision should be set aside, while INEC and other respondents will defend the judgment.
