Judgment on a suit seeking the de-registration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party (AP), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA) and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), over alleged constitutional breaches.m, was deferred Friday due to absence of the presiding judge

It would be recalled that Justice Lifu had on May 20, adjourned to June 5, to decide whether the affected parties should be allowed to participate in future elections in the country, having failed to win any seat in previous elections.

However, the judgement could not be delivered as scheduled due to the absence of the judge.

At the scheduled date, litigants and lawyers were all in court, including journalists and after waiting for nearly two hours, one of the court’s registrars announced to the court that the matter would not go on as scheduled due to the judge’s engagement with other official duties outside Abuja.

The registrar added that a new date for the delivery of the judgement would be communicated to parties in the suit, once it has been fixed.

Justice Lifu had last month fixed June 5, for judgement after taking arguments from all parties in the suit seeking the deregistration of the above political parties over alleged constitutional breaches.

He had also dismissed an application for stay of proceedings as well as applications seeking to be joined as an interested party.

The court had predicated the refusal on the grounds that granting a stay of proceedings at that stage would cause hardship on the litigants, especially as political parties were already expected to submit names of candidates ahead of upcoming elections.

Lifu had recalled that the Supreme Court had repeatedly cautioned lower courts against granting undue stay of proceedings, adding that since the applicants had already approached the Court of Appeal, the trial court should be allowed to conclude hearing of the matter unless otherwise directed by the appellate court.

“It is my considered view not to grant the stay except otherwise decided by the upper court,” the judge said, adding that all issues raised by the applicants lacked merit and were accordingly dismissed.

On the joinder applications, Lifu explained that most of the political parties seeking to be represented were already defendants in the suit, making the inclusion of individual members unnecessary.

Justice Lifu consequently dismissed the applications seeking to be joined in the suit by 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th defendants.

The applicants included incumbent governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke and a governorship candidate in Ekiti State, Oluwafemi Abayomi Adebambi both of the Accord party, and Hon Sani Yakubu Noma of the ADC.

The court also heard arguments on an application by counsel to the APP, Peter Abang, seeking dismissal of the suit on grounds that issues raised had already been argued before the appellate court.

In a brief ruling, Justice Lifu stated that the court would consider the decision of the Court of Appeal as relates to this matter alongside issues raised by parties before delivering judgement.

He subsequently directed parties to amend and adopt their final processes in line with the accelerated hearing earlier ordered by the court.

The suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026, was instituted by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and several political parties, including the ADC, Action Alliance, APP, Accord Party and Zenith Labour Party.

The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Chief Tony Ojukwu, OFR, SAN, has called on governments, businesses, civil society organizations, and citizens to take urgent and collective action to address climate change.

This is necessary to protect the environment for the benefit of present and future generations.

The learned Silk made this statement on the eve of the commemoration of World Environment Day 2026.

Chief Ojukwu noted that climate change has become one of the greatest challenges facing humanity.

In Nigeria, its effects are increasingly evident through recurrent flooding, desertification, drought, coastal erosion, and other environmental hazards.

A statement by Fatimah Agwai Mohammed, Director Corporate Affairs and External Linkages Department, quoted the NHRC boss to have also expressed concern over environmental pollution from industrial and urban waste, including plastic pollution, oil spills, and improper waste disposal, which continue to degrade ecosystems and threaten public health.

According to him, these challenges continue to affect livelihoods, food security, public health, and access to clean water, especially among vulnerable populations.

The Executive Secretary emphasized that climate change is not only an environmental issue but also a human rights issue. He stated that its impact threatens the enjoyment of fundamental rights, including the rights to life, health, food, housing, development, and a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment.

The Human Rights Advocate expressed concern that women, children, persons with disabilities, older persons, and low-income communities often bear the greatest burden of climate-related disasters and environmental degradation.

Chief Ojukwu therefore urged governments at all levels to strengthen climate action, enforce environmental laws, and invest in sustainable solutions such as renewable energy, afforestation, environmental conservation, and effective disaster-risk management.

He also called on businesses and other stakeholders to adopt environmentally responsible practices and ensure that economic activities do not undermine the rights and well-being of affected communities.

The NHRC further notes that it has worked closely with relevant stakeholders in developing the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights, which integrates environmental protection and environmental rights as key components of responsible business conduct and sustainable development.

While reaffirming the Commission’s commitment to environmental justice and climate resilience, the Executive Secretary stressed that protecting the environment is essential for the protection and enjoyment of human rights.

He urged all Nigerians to play their part in safeguarding the environment and building a sustainable future for generations to come.

World Environmental Day is marked on the 5th of June annually.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has warned political parties that any primary election conducted outside the commission’s May 30 deadline remains invalid, unless a higher court overturns an earlier Federal High Court judgment on the matter.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna made the disclosure and advised that political parties would have to continue to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 pending the determination of the commission’s appeal before the Court of Appeal.

Haruna stated: “Obviously, for now, any primary held outside INEC’s May 30 deadline will be invalid unless the Court of Appeal overturns the Federal High Court judgment in INEC’s appeal against the ruling that the timetable breached the Electoral Act 2026 in some of its provisions.

“In other words, for now, the political parties are better advised to be guided by the existing Act.”

The INEC commissioner’s position follows the ongoing legal dispute over the commission’s timetable for party primaries and candidate nominations ahead of the 2027 general election.

A Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice Mohammed Umar, in a judgment, had nullified aspects of INEC’s electoral guidelines and schedule put in place for the conduct of the 2027 general elections.