ADC logo and court gavel
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five political parties for failing to satisfy constitutional requirements governing political party participation in Nigeria.
Delivering judgment, Justice Peter Lifu held that the affected parties failed to meet the minimum electoral performance threshold stipulated by law and therefore no longer qualify to retain their status as registered political parties.
The parties affected by the ruling are the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party (A), Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
Justice Lifu directed INEC to commence the deregistration process and further ordered that the parties should not be allowed to participate in future elections, including the 2027 general elections, unless they meet the constitutional requirements.
The suit was filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators, which challenged the continued registration of the parties on the grounds that they failed to demonstrate the electoral spread and performance required under the Constitution.
According to the plaintiffs, political parties are expected to secure at least 25 per cent of votes in specified elections to maintain their relevance and legal standing within Nigeria’s democratic framework.
The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and INEC were joined as defendants in the case alongside the affected political parties.
Before delivering judgment, the court dismissed several preliminary objections raised by the defendants, ruling that the objections lacked merit and did not invalidate the substantive issues brought before the court.
The plaintiffs maintained that none of the parties had successfully refuted the claims regarding their poor electoral performance, urging the court to enforce constitutional provisions relating to party registration and continued existence.
The judgment is expected to have significant implications for Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of preparations for the 2027 general elections.
