Court orders INEC to deregister ADC, Accord, APP, AA, ZLP

The 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 over their alleged failure to meet constitutional requirements for continued existence.

The affected parties are the ADC, Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

Justice Peter Lifu issued the order while delivering judgement in a suit filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators, a coalition of former federal and state lawmakers advocating electoral reforms and a reduction in the proliferation of political parties in the country.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026, the group asked the court to determine whether INEC had a constitutional duty to deregister political parties that failed to satisfy the performance benchmarks stipulated under Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022 and relevant electoral regulations.

The former lawmakers argued that the five parties had consistently failed to secure the electoral thresholds required to retain their registration, including winning at least 25% of votes in a state during a presidential election or securing elective positions at the federal, state or local government levels.

According to the plaintiffs, the parties recorded poor performances in the 2023 general elections and subsequent by-elections and failed to win seats across critical tiers of government.

They maintained that the continued recognition of the parties by INEC was unconstitutional and capable of undermining the integrity, efficiency and credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process.

The forum therefore urged the court to compel INEC to deregister the parties before preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum.

The plaintiffs also sought orders restraining the affected parties from participating in elections, conducting primaries, organising campaigns and rallies, or engaging in any political activities pending compliance with constitutional requirements.

In his judgement, Justice Lifu agreed with the submissions of the plaintiffs and directed INEC to commence the process of deregistering the affected parties.

The verdict is expected to generate significant political ripples, particularly for the ADC, which has recently emerged as a major platform for opposition politicians seeking to challenge President Bola Tinubu and the ruling APC in the 2027 presidential election.

However, legal observers say the affected parties may challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal, potentially setting the stage for a major legal battle over the interpretation of constitutional provisions governing political party registration and deregistration in Nigeria.