NIGERIA: Court Orders Deregistration Of ADC And 4 Other Political Parties

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties for failing to meet the constitutional requirements for continued registration.

Justice Peter Lifu delivered the judgment after dismissing all preliminary objections raised by the defendants.

The affected parties are the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord (A), Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

The court ruled that the parties failed to satisfy the mandatory electoral performance threshold of securing at least 25 per cent of valid votes cast in the prescribed number of states during the last general elections, as required by the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act.

Justice Lifu directed INEC not to recognise or allow the deregistered parties to participate in any future elections, including the 2027 general elections.

The judgment came in a suit filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026. The plaintiff joined the Attorney-General of the Federation and INEC as defendants in the matter.

The plaintiff argued that the affected parties no longer met the constitutional criteria for registration and operation as political parties, having failed to demonstrate sufficient national spread and electoral performance.

The court agreed with this position, noting that none of the defendants effectively countered the arguments presented.

This ruling is seen as a significant development that could reshape the opposition political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections, particularly affecting the ADC, which had recently positioned itself as a major platform for prominent politicians including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

INEC is yet to issue an official statement on the court order as of the time of this report. Legal experts expect the affected parties to challenge the judgment at the appellate court.