Ex-lawmakers seeks to expand suit against ADC, Accord, others as court set to rule on April 17

The Federal High Court in Abuja will rule on April 17 on an application by a forum of former lawmakers seeking to amend its originating summons in a case aimed at deregistering the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party, Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), and Action Alliance (AA).

The former legislators filed the motion to include other political parties in the suit, arguing that a judgment on the initial summons, which targeted only the ADC, would not be enforceable against additional parties unless they were formally joined.

Yakubu Abdullahi Ruba, SAN, asked the court to invoke Order 7 Rule 6 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules to grant the amendment.

The ADC opposed the application,counsel to the plaintiffs, describing it as invalid. Its counsel, Shuaibu Eneojo Aruwa, SAN, pointed out inconsistencies between the original summons filed on December 8, 2025, by the National Forum of Former Legislators and the subsequent summons filed on January 12, 2026, by the Incorporated Trustees of the same body.

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He argued that the discrepancies made the amendment defective and said the plaintiffs had violated court rules by joining additional defendants without leave.

The Accord Party also opposed the amendment, citing differences in the plaintiff’s identity and saying the motion was defective.

The suit, FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/25, filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators, names the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), and the political parties as defendants.

The plaintiffs argue that INEC is required by law to deregister political parties that fail to meet minimum electoral thresholds, including winning at least 25 percent of votes in one state in a presidential election or securing legislative seats.

The forum seeks orders compelling INEC to enforce these thresholds and injunctions restraining the affected parties from political activities until compliance.

It said allowing non-compliant parties to participate in the 2027 general elections could undermine electoral integrity, waste public resources, and create administrative challenges.