The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a directive to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), ordering the immediate deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties.
Justice Peter Lifu, who delivered the judgment, confirmed the ruling following a legal challenge initiated by the National Forum of Former Legislators.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026, the group sought a judicial determination on whether INEC is constitutionally obligated to remove political parties that fail to meet the performance thresholds outlined in Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act 2022.
The other political parties affected by the court’s order include the Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
The plaintiffs argued that these five parties have consistently failed to meet the mandatory benchmarks required to maintain their registration status.
According to the former legislators, these requirements include securing at least 25 per cent of votes in a single state during a presidential election or winning at least one elective seat at the national, state, or local government level.
They informed the court that the ADC and the other named parties performed poorly during the 2023 general elections and subsequent by-elections, failing to secure seats across the relevant tiers of government.
The litigants maintained that the continued recognition of these parties is “unlawful” and “undermines the integrity” of Nigeria’s electoral system.
Consequently, they urged the court to declare that INEC is duty-bound to enforce deregistration.
Beyond the declaration, the court was requested to compel INEC to deregister the five parties before the 2027 election cycle progresses further.
The plaintiff also sought an injunction to restrain the affected parties from participating in political activities, including campaigns, rallies, and primaries, and to prohibit INEC from engaging with them in any official capacity.
The court’s decision carries significant weight for the 2027 political landscape, potentially impacting the eligibility of candidates associated with these parties—including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar—to participate in the upcoming presidential race.
