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A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five political parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC), over their failure to meet constitutional requirements for continued registration.
Justice Peter Lifu delivered the judgment following a suit filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators, which challenged the continued recognition of the parties despite what it described as poor electoral performance.
The court directed INEC to remove the ADC from its register alongside the Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026, the plaintiffs asked the court to determine whether INEC is constitutionally obligated to deregister political parties that fail to satisfy the electoral performance benchmarks outlined in Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022, and the commission’s regulations.
The former lawmakers argued that the affected parties had consistently failed to meet the constitutional thresholds required to retain their registration. They maintained that political parties are expected to secure at least 25 per cent of votes in a state during a presidential election or win at least one elective position at the federal, state, or local government level.
According to the plaintiffs, the five parties failed to record significant electoral success in the 2023 general elections and subsequent by-elections, leaving them without representation across major tiers of government.
They further contended that the continued existence of the parties as registered political organisations contravenes constitutional provisions and weakens the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system.
The plaintiffs therefore urged the court to compel INEC to deregister the parties before preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum.
They also sought orders restraining the affected parties from participating in future elections or engaging in political activities such as campaigns, rallies, and party primaries. Additionally, they asked the court to bar INEC from recognising or dealing with the parties in any official capacity unless they fully comply with constitutional requirements.
The judgment is expected to have significant political implications ahead of the 2027 elections, particularly for aspirants seeking to contest on the platforms of the affected parties, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who has recently been linked with the ADC.
