ADC youths seek judge’s sack, petition NJC over deregistration ruling

The youth wing of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC), demanding disciplinary action against Justice Peter Odo Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, over his judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the party and four others.

The petition follows Monday’s ruling by Justice Lifu, which ordered INEC to deregister the ADC, Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) in a suit instituted by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators.

However, barely 24 hours after the judgment, a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal, led by Justice Abba Mohammed, held that the trial judge acted contrary to an existing appellate court order staying proceedings in the matter.

In the petition dated June 18 and signed by the ADC National Youth Leader, Balarabe Rufai, the party’s youth wing accused Justice Lifu of judicial misconduct and called for his immediate removal from all cases involving the ADC.

Addressing journalists at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Thursday, Ibrahim Wala, who represented Rufai, alleged that members of the group were prevented from physically submitting the petition at the NJC headquarters.

According to him, roads leading to the council’s premises were allegedly blocked by heavily armed security personnel.

The petition described Justice Lifu’s judgment as a deliberate attempt to undermine Nigeria’s democratic process and restrict political participation.

“We demand the immediate and total removal of Hon. Justice Peter Odo Lifu from any and all adjudicatory matters, reviews or decision-making roles concerning the ADC,” the petition stated.

The group further urged the NJC to recommend the judge’s dismissal from the bench, alleging that his actions had damaged public confidence in the judiciary.

“Given his pattern of flagrant judicial rascality, we explicitly demand that the National Judicial Council recommend his absolute dismissal from the Nigerian judiciary in order to preserve the fading credibility of the bench,” the petition added.

The ADC youths argued that the judgment was not merely a legal error but a politically motivated decision aimed at narrowing Nigeria’s democratic space.

Referring to the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026, the petitioners alleged that the ruling sought to weaken opposition parties and entrench a two-party political structure.

“This judgment is not an honest legal error. It is a calculated and politically motivated act designed to shrink the democratic space in Nigeria and artificially consolidate a two-party monopoly,” the petition stated.

The group also faulted the judge for proceeding with the matter despite what it described as a subsisting Court of Appeal order staying further proceedings.

According to the petition, the action amounted to a violation of judicial precedent and constituted gross misconduct.

“Justice Lifu brazenly proceeded with this judgment despite a binding Court of Appeal order that explicitly stayed proceedings on the matter. Such conduct subverts the doctrine of stare decisis and undermines confidence in the administration of justice,” the ADC youths alleged.

They further questioned the conduct of the plaintiffs in the case, claiming that there were irregularities regarding their legal status during the proceedings.

The petition also referenced previous allegations made against the judge by other political actors, arguing that recurring complaints against him had contributed to growing public distrust of the judiciary.

The ADC youths warned that they would continue their campaign until the NJC addresses their demands.

“We cannot stand by and watch the political rights of millions of young Nigerians be auctioned away by compromised benches,” the group said.

“The continued involvement of Justice Lifu in matters concerning the ADC destroys public confidence and makes a mockery of the principle of fair hearing.”

The youths insisted that they would sustain their protest and advocacy efforts until the NJC takes what they described as decisive action to protect the integrity of the judiciary.

The controversy stems from ongoing legal battles over the status of several political parties, with the appellate court’s intervention now casting uncertainty over the implementation of the Federal High Court’s deregistration order.