The youth wing of African Democratic Congress (ADC) has petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC), demanding disciplinary action against Justice Peter Lifu over the controversial judgment ordering the deregistration of the party and four others.
Gatekeepers News reports that the petition, dated June 18 and signed by ADC National Youth Leader Balarabe Rufai, accused the judge of disregarding an earlier order of the Court of Appeal.
The youths described the judgment as an act of “judicial rascality” and urged the NJC to remove Justice Lifu from all matters involving the ADC. They also called for his dismissal from the bench, arguing that his actions had damaged public confidence in the judiciary.
The controversy stems from a Federal High Court ruling delivered by Justice Lifu, which directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the ADC, along with the Accord Party, Action Alliance, Action Peoples Party, and Zenith Labour Party, over alleged failure to meet constitutional electoral performance requirements.
However, the Court of Appeal later faulted the judgment, stating that the trial judge proceeded with the case despite a subsisting appellate court order staying proceedings. The appellate court subsequently suspended the execution of the deregistration ruling.
The ADC has maintained that the judgment violates constitutional principles and due process. The party argues that INEC itself informed the court that there was no constitutional basis for its deregistration and has vowed to challenge the ruling through all available legal channels.
