Ubani says judiciary cannot direct INEC over party deregistration, reacting to court orders involving ADC and other political parties
Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association Electoral Committee Monday Ubani has stated that the judiciary cannot direct the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on administrative decisions, following recent court rulings on political party deregistration.
Also read: SDP’s Adebayo Slams Party Deregistration Ruling
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Day Break’, Ubani maintained that Independent National Electoral Commission is constitutionally independent and must be allowed to exercise its statutory powers without interference.
His comments come after Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court ordered INEC to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties.
However, the Court of Appeal in Abuja subsequently granted a stay of execution on the judgment, temporarily halting the enforcement of the deregistration order.
Ubani argued that INEC had already exercised its administrative powers in line with the constitution and found no breach warranting deregistration of the affected parties.
He said the court should not substitute its own opinion for that of a constitutionally empowered body, insisting that doing so undermines institutional independence.
Also read: SDP’s Adebayo Slams Party Deregistration Ruling
The development has continued to generate legal and political debate over the limits of judicial authority in electoral matters and the autonomy of regulatory institutions in Nigeria.
