Just In:Trouble for Atiku, Adeleke As Court Orders INEC to Deregister ADC, Accord, Three Other Parties

Trouble for Atiku, Adeleke As Court Orders INEC to Deregister ADC, Accord, Three Other Parties

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday ordered the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties for failing to comply with constitutional provisions governing political parties in Nigeria.

Justice Peter Lifu delivered the judgment, directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove the affected parties from its register, following their failure to secure 25 per cent of votes in the last general elections as required by law.

According to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), as cited by Daily Trust, the affected parties include the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord (A), Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

The judge, who had earlier dismissed all preliminary objections raised by the defendants, further ordered INEC to bar the parties from participating in future elections, including the 2027 general elections, for failing to meet the constitutional threshold.

NAN reported that the suit was instituted by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators under case number FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026 against the five political parties.

The group also joined the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as defendants in the matter.

The plaintiffs argued that the affected political parties failed to meet constitutional requirements relating to electoral spread and performance. They maintained that parties are expected to secure at least 25 per cent of votes in specified elections to retain their registration status and urged the court to order their deregistration, a request upheld by the court.