Accord Party’s deregistration judgement violates Appeal Court order — Adeleke

Osun State governor, Ademola Adeleke, has criticised the Federal High Court judgement ordering the deregistration of the Accord Party and four other political parties, describing the decision as a violation of a subsisting order of the Court of Appeal and an abuse of judicial process.

In a statement issued on Monday by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke maintained that the appellate court had already directed a stay of proceedings in the matter pending the determination of an appeal, making the delivery of judgement by the lower court legally questionable.

According to the governor, records of the Court of Appeal proceedings of May 22, 2026, were tendered before Justice Peter Lifu as Exhibit MAC 2, with the appellate court expressly holding that the delivery of judgement forms part of court proceedings and should not proceed while the appeal is pending.

Adeleke said he was therefore surprised that the Federal High Court went ahead to deliver judgement despite the subsisting appellate order.

The governor urged members of the Accord Party and residents of Osun State to remain calm, expressing confidence that the Court of Appeal would overturn the judgement when it hears the matter.

“We are confident that justice will prevail and that our party will remain on the ballot for the August 15 governorship election,” he said.

He also dismissed suggestions that the judgement could derail the party’s campaign, insisting that the planned flag-off of its governorship campaign would proceed as scheduled.

“Our lawyers are taking all necessary legal steps to challenge this judgement. We will not be distracted. Our campaign continues and we remain focused on securing victory at the polls,” Adeleke stated.