Maduabuchi urges Lifu to resign after Appeal Court overturns INEC deregistration
Senior Advocate Oba Maduabuchi called on Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court to resign after the Court of Appeal, on Tuesday July 27 2026, vacated a judgment that had ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to deregister the African Democratic Congress and four other parties for failing to meet constitutional requirements. The appeal court found that Justice Lifu had ignored a May 22 order to stay proceedings, describing his action as judicial impertinence and citing a Supreme Court precedent that such conduct renders a judge unfit for the bench. The panel noted that despite being reminded of the stay order, Lifu deliberately ignored it and proceeded to deliver judgment, an act the court labeled a clear violation of judicial discipline. Maduabuchi said the judiciary has abandoned its duty and become involved in partisan politics, warning that young lawyers like his two sons face an uncertain future. He urged Justice Lifu to resign as the proper course of action, stating that a judge who behaves in this manner should not remain on the bench.