A FEDERAL High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five political parties — the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party, Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) — for allegedly failing to meet constitutional requirements for continued registration.
In a judgment delivered on Monday, Justice Peter Lifu held that the parties failed to satisfy electoral performance thresholds stipulated under the Constitution and the Electoral Act.
The court directed INEC to remove the parties from its register and barred them from participating in future elections, including the 2027 general election.
The suit was filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators against INEC, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and the affected parties.
The AGF supported the suit, arguing that INEC has a constitutional obligation to deregister parties that fail to meet prescribed electoral benchmarks.
The plaintiffs contended that the parties neither secured the required electoral spread nor won elective offices at the federal, state or local government levels, thereby failing to satisfy conditions for continued recognition as political parties.
Justice Lifu agreed, ruling that INEC should not allow the affected parties to participate in subsequent elections.
The judgment comes after months of legal proceedings, including attempts by some of the affected parties to halt the case through appeals and applications for a stay of proceedings. Earlier this month, proceedings had been temporarily stalled following an order from the Court of Appeal, before the matter returned to the Federal High Court for determination.
The ruling could have significant political consequences ahead of the 2027 elections and upcoming off-cycle governorship polls, particularly if it survives expected appeals and is promptly enforced.
Several aspirants and elected officials associated with the affected parties could face uncertainty over their political platforms as the legal battle moves to higher courts.
Background and Political Implications
The decision lands at a sensitive moment in Nigeria’s political landscape, where opposition parties have been seeking coalitions and alternative platforms to challenge the dominance of the ruling party ahead of the 2027 elections.
The ADC, in particular, has attracted attention in recent months as a potential vehicle for opposition realignment, making its deregistration politically consequential.
If upheld on appeal, the ruling could accelerate consolidation among smaller parties, forcing politicians and candidates to migrate to larger platforms.
Supporters of deregistration argue that it will reduce ballot congestion and strengthen party competitiveness, while critics view it as narrowing the political space available to smaller parties and emerging movements.
The case is therefore likely to become a major legal and political battleground as preparations for the 2027 elections intensify.
