Party Deregistration Ruling: ADC Youth Wing demands Justice Lifu’s removal, submits petitions to NJC

The National Youth Wing of the opposition African Democratic Congress, ADC, in collaboration with leaders of civil society organisations affiliated with the party, has petitioned the National Judicial Council, NJC, demanding the removal of Justice Peter Odo Lifu from all matters relating to the party.

The petition, dated June 18, 2026, was addressed to the Executive Secretary of the NJC and signed by the ADC National Youth Leader, Comrade Balarabe Rufai.

Speaking to journalists at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Thursday, Rufai, who was represented by Ibrahim Garba Wala, alleged that attempts were made to prevent party members from submitting the petition at the NJC headquarters.

According to him, all roads leading to the council’s premises were barricaded by heavily armed security personnel, forcing the group to present the petition publicly.

The petition called for the immediate removal of Justice Lifu from any adjudicatory, review or decision-making role involving the ADC and urged the NJC to commence disciplinary proceedings against him.

“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.

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

The youth wing accused the judge of delivering what it described as a controversial judgment in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026, which ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the ADC and four other political parties.

According to the petitioners, the ruling was politically motivated and intended to undermine democratic participation and weaken opposition politics in the country.

“Our democratic architecture is under a coordinated assault by compromised custodians of the law,” the petition alleged.

The group further claimed that Justice Lifu proceeded with the case despite a subsisting Court of Appeal order allegedly staying proceedings on the matter.

“Justice Lifu brazenly proceeded with this judgment despite a binding Court of Appeal order that explicitly stayed proceedings on the matter, a move that subverts the doctrine of stare decisis and constitutes gross misconduct,” the petition stated.

The ADC youth leaders also questioned what they described as procedural irregularities involving the plaintiffs in the suit, alleging that the legal identity of the litigants was altered during the proceedings without proper authorisation from the court.

They argued that recurring allegations against the judge had contributed to a growing erosion of public confidence in the judiciary.

“We cannot watch the political rights of millions of young Nigerians be auctioned off by compromised benches. The continuous involvement of Justice Lifu in ADC affairs completely destroys public trust and makes a mockery of fair hearing,” the petition added.

The group vowed to continue its protests until the NJC takes action on its demands.

According to the petitioners, the ADC Youth Wing and youth representatives from across the country will remain resolute in their campaign until the council acts to safeguard institutional integrity, enforce judicial discipline and consider the removal of Justice Lifu from matters concerning the party.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the National Judicial Council nor Justice Lifu had responded to the allegations contained in the petition.