The Federal High Court in Abuja has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties from its register.
The affected parties include the Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP), and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP). The ruling was delivered by Justice Peter Lifu.
The decision followed a suit filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators in case number FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026, which asked the court to interpret whether INEC is constitutionally required to deregister parties that fail to meet the performance standards outlined in Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), alongside provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and INEC regulations.
The plaintiffs argued that the five political parties had consistently failed to meet the required electoral benchmarks necessary to maintain their registration. They explained that such conditions include winning at least 25 per cent of votes in at least one state during a presidential election or securing at least one elective position at federal, state, or local government level.
According to the former lawmakers, the affected parties performed poorly in both the 2023 general elections and subsequent by-elections, failing to win representation across key levels of government.
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They further contended that allowing the parties to remain registered undermines the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral system, urging the court to compel INEC to deregister them ahead of the 2027 election cycle.
The plaintiffs also asked the court to bar the affected parties from participating in elections or engaging in political activities such as campaigns, rallies, and primaries. In addition, they sought an order preventing INEC from recognising or dealing with the parties unless they comply strictly with constitutional requirements.
The ruling is expected to have implications for the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections, potentially affecting candidates associated with the parties, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.