The Independent National Electoral Commission has asked a court to temporarily halt its order deregistering five political parties. INEC wants the pause while it appeals the ruling that removed the parties from the electoral roll.

The parties affected are the ADC, Accord, Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

The electoral body’s decision to seek a stay of execution means the parties can remain registered for now. This gives INEC time to properly challenge the court’s earlier decision through the appeals process. The move also prevents the parties from being immediately removed from the commission’s records.

INEC had previously deregistered these parties based on their performance in past elections. Under Nigerian law, political parties can be delisted if they fail to meet certain requirements, such as winning a set percentage of votes or securing representation in government. The affected parties have argued against their removal.

The court will now have to decide whether to grant INEC’s request for a pause. If the stay is approved, the parties will continue to exist legally while the appeal is heard. This development is significant as it affects the political landscape and the options available to voters in future elections.

Observers are watching closely to see how the court rules on this matter. The decision could have implications for Nigeria’s multi-party democracy and the ability of smaller parties to participate in the political process. The case highlights ongoing tensions between electoral regulations and the rights of political associations.