A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties, a ruling that could reshape the political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections.
The affected parties are the Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
Justice Peter Lifu delivered the judgment following a suit filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators.
The plaintiffs asked the court to determine whether INEC to deregister ADC and other underperforming parties is a constitutional duty under Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, and INEC regulations.
The forum argued that the five parties consistently failed to meet the constitutional requirements needed to retain their registration.
According to the plaintiffs, political parties must secure at least 25 percent of votes in a state during a presidential election or win at least one elective seat at the federal, state, or local government level.
They maintained that the ADC and the other parties failed to achieve these benchmarks in the 2023 general elections and subsequent by-elections.
The former lawmakers further argued that allowing the parties to remain registered weakens the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral system.
They urged the court to declare that INEC has a legal obligation to remove parties that fail to satisfy constitutional performance standards.
The plaintiffs also requested an order compelling the electoral commission to complete the deregistration process before preparations for the 2027 elections progress further.
In addition, they sought an injunction preventing the affected parties from participating in elections or conducting political activities, including campaigns, rallies, and primaries.
They also asked the court to stop INEC from recognizing or engaging with the parties in any official capacity unless they comply with constitutional provisions.
The ruling could affect the political ambitions of members of the affected parties, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
