Political Parties, Courts, and the 2027 Elections

As Nigeria gets ready for the 2027 general elections, all parties involved need to act responsibly. They should avoid any actions that could raise doubts about the election's integrity. If people feel our democracy is under threat, it can derail the elections and create suspicions of wrongdoing. Recently, two court cases have drawn attention. One is about Justice Peter Lifu and the proposed deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party (AP), and three other parties. The other is the Federal High Court in Lokoja's decision regarding the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) registration. These situations are troubling, especially since the judiciary is meant to be a place of justice. Judges are expected to be above suspicion, just like Caesar's wife. They must ensure their judgments reflect fairness and impartiality, regardless of who is affected. Yet, many people now question the integrity of our courts. Some believe judges can be bribed, and that the judiciary has become tied to the government and those with money. This situation is damaging. It threatens the rule of law in the eyes of ordinary Nigerians.

In the Justice Peter Lifu case, it is claimed that he overruled an earlier decision from the Court of Appeal. This decision, delivered on 22 May, stated that the case Incorporated Trustees of NFFL vs. INEC & Ors (FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2027) should be paused. This case was brought by the National Forum of Former Legislators at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where they sought to deregister five political parties for not meeting performance requirements. Justice Lifu's court ignored the Court of Appeal and ordered INEC to deregister the political parties. The Court of Appeal was outraged and accused Justice Lifu of violating the court hierarchy and committing serious judicial misconduct. They have now postponed the hearing of the appeal until 7 July, allowing the parties involved to submit their briefs of argument.

It is hard to argue that Justice Peter Lifu was unaware of the Court of Appeal's earlier decision. There is also the question of whether the former legislators had the right to bring the case. The Nigerian Supreme Court tends to take a more lenient view regarding who can bring cases, especially if public interest is involved. But some lawyers argue for a stricter approach, requiring the litigant to show they were specifically harmed. Justice Lifu's decision was based on his interpretation of Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution, which gives INEC the power to register or deregister political parties to clean up the political space. But did INEC properly investigate the claims against the five parties, or did they simply accept the claims from third parties?

Interestingly, the judge seemed to anticipate the Court of Appeal's response. In his conclusions, he noted that anyone wanting to stop a court order must seek a specific stay of that order. He emphasized that a judgment order is still active. Justice Lifu referenced a National Judicial Council directive from 16 June, stating that cases nearing judgment should not be transferred, regardless of complaints from any party.

He concluded that a court judgment should not be delayed or stopped without proper orders. The Court of Appeal disagrees. They focus on the hierarchy of courts and have accused Justice Peter Lifu of judicial misconduct. The public and the parties involved feel that such misconduct must be addressed. Justice Lifu's reliance on the NJC authority raises questions. Is the NJC superior to the appellate court when no wrongdoing is proven? Many Nigerians sense that there is more to Justice Lifu's ruling. Mr Atedo Peterside expressed this sentiment on his X handle, saying, "the cure for judicial misconduct is disciplinary action." He argued that ignoring misconduct while relying on appeals encourages judges to issue questionable rulings. The belief that judges can be bought is why we must protect the integrity of the judiciary, which is seen as the last hope for the common man. The NJC is responsible for ensuring judges are disciplined. Are they doing their job? The term "misconduct" should never be linked with the judiciary. This is a major issue. Nigerians are doubtful, especially since judges seem overly rewarded with lavish official residences.

While I want to defend judges, claiming they might be victims of slander, it is hard to ignore the recent developments in Lokoja regarding the NDC's eligibility. Justice Isa H. Dashen overturned a December 10, 2025 judgment from the same court that ordered INEC to register the NDC. Now, the court says its earlier decision was wrong because the Peace Movement Party (PMP) was not included, denying them a fair hearing. The NDC has cried out, saying they are going to the Court of Appeal. They claim there was a miscarriage of justice and that Justice Dashen acted beyond his authority.

In Nigeria, once a court has made a final decision, it cannot change that decision. It cannot act like an appellate court for its own rulings. There are exceptions, but there is no evidence that the NDC's registration was obtained fraudulently. The PMP isn't even a registered party in Nigeria. If they believe the NDC used their logo, they should have filed a suit for "passing off," allowing the court to decide on a logo change.

Beyond the legal details, what seems fair to ordinary people? If the PMP was denied a fair hearing, they should have gone to the Appeal Court. The NDC was registered as a party and has participated in elections. To suddenly have a Lokoja court reverse everything is shocking. The judge should have considered Nigeria's tense political climate. The NDC believes it will stay on the ballot and that there has been a miscarriage of justice. The Court of Appeal will look into whether the lower court acted improperly and whether the case was handled properly. We await their decision.

Some believe that the cases involving opposition parties are linked to the Tinubu administration's goal of creating a one-party state. Several presidential candidates feel there is a plan to eliminate them. The ADC and Labour Party leaders have also voiced concerns about the courts. This is the perception. But, Tinubu might not be directly involved. It could be the system acting in his name. The President should aim to improve institutions and ensure democracy thrives. The stability of Nigeria matters to all political players. The judiciary must remain credible. Where judges misbehave, they must face consequences to maintain public trust.