ZLP Deregistration: Nwanyanwu Warns Justice Lifu in Federal High Court Judgment

The National Chairman and presidential candidate of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Dan Nwanyanwu, said that the Federal High Court’s ruling against his party and four others will ultimately reveal what he claims has been occurring within that court.

Nwanyanwu described Justice Peter Lifu’s decision, which ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord, ZLP and other parties, as a travesty of justice.

The court’s order was issued in a case filed by a group of former lawmakers. Justice Lifu directed INEC to remove the parties from the 2027 general elections on the basis of alleged constitutional breaches.

As a result, former Vice President and ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar will have no platform to contest the upcoming presidential election. Likewise, Osun State governor Ademola Adeleke, who was set to run again on the Accord Party ticket in the August 15 governorship election, has been excluded from the race.

The Court of Appeal has stayed the proceedings in this matter. Nevertheless, Justice Lifu proceeded with the case, issuing notices for the parties to appear in court and delivering judgment this morning.

Speaking on Arise News, Nwanyanwu said, “What happened today is a travesty of justice. What happened today can never be accommodated in legal practice. Without going into too many details, the proceedings in this court have been stayed by the Court of Appeal, and this judge, Peter Lifu, wanted to give judgment on the fifth of this month. When he saw the stay, he couldn’t deliver the judgment. We were in court that day.”

“Just this morning, about 9 o’clock, he sent notices to all the parties to be in court, and he gave the judgment. So you ask yourself, is there no respect for the hierarchy of courts? In fact, his attention was drawn to the appeal. His attention was drawn to the proceedings in the Court of Appeal,” Nwanyanwu added.

“He said, ‘Yes, I know, yes, I know,’ and he chose to ignore it. That is irresponsible and disrespects the judiciary. It is something that will now expose all that has been going on within the judiciary, particularly the Federal High Court.”