The National Forum of Former Legislators (NFFL) has initiated a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The core argument of the suit is that the ADC has allegedly failed to meet the constitutional benchmarks required to maintain its status as a recognized political party in Nigeria.
The suit, designated FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2025, was filed by the group’s National Coordinator and Board of Trustees member, Honorable Raphael Nnanna Igbokwe.
In his affidavit, Mr. Igbokwe asserted that the ADC has not met the mandatory electoral performance thresholds set by law.
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Specifically, Igbokwe detailed the party’s alleged failures, stating that the ADC did not secure “25 percent of votes in any state” during the most recent presidential election, nor did it win “any seats at the ward, councillorship, or local government chairmanship levels” across the country.
Furthermore, he noted that the party did not clinch “any position during INEC’s August 2025 bye-elections,” an outcome he stated emphasizes its current lack of political impact.
According to the former lawmakers, these shortcomings violate Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
This section permits the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister parties that fail to meet specific electoral requirements, such as winning 25 percent of votes in a state during a presidential election or securing any legislative or local government seat.
They also referenced Section 222, which outlines other key conditions political associations must fulfill. Consequently, the NFFL requested the court to rule that the ADC no longer satisfies constitutional standards and should be removed from the list of registered parties.
This legal move occurs against the backdrop of INEC’s prior deregistration of 74 political parties in 2021, a decision that the Supreme Court later upheld in 2022.
The ADC has recently faced additional difficulties, including the expulsion of its sole representative in the National Assembly.
Speaking on the suit, Igbokwe insisted that the action was taken strictly to uphold the rule of law and protect the integrity of the country’s electoral system. He encapsulated the reason for the action by stating: “We initiated this action to reinforce the rule of law and advance our electoral jurisprudence.”
Addressing concerns that the lawsuit is designed to undermine opposition parties or push the country toward a one-party structure, Igbokwe dismissed these fears, maintaining the issue is purely constitutional. He offered a clear explanation: “This is not about weakening multiparty democracy or pushing the country toward a one-party state. Nigeria has numerous parties with meaningful national presence. Being an opposition party requires more than existing on paper, it requires meeting constitutional and electoral criteria.”
He stressed that the goal is to ensure that registered political parties justify their existence through performance, not sentiment. Igbokwe further stated the case is entirely legal: “The issue before the court is purely legal. A political party must meet minimum standards to remain registered, as affirmed by the Supreme Court. Our responsibility as a public-interest group is to insist that the law be obeyed, not to determine which parties survive.”
He concluded by adding that maintaining a register of only active and viable parties is critical for strengthening Nigeria’s democracy, noting: “This is not an attempt to silence opposition. It is about protecting Nigerians from dormant political platforms that exist only in name yet add nothing to governance, representation, or voter participation.”
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