ABUJA, Nigeria
A 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 registration.
Justice Peter Lifu, who delivered the judgment on Monday, directed INEC to remove the ADC, Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) from the register of political parties.
The suit was instituted by the National Forum of Former Legislators, which argued that the affected parties failed to satisfy the electoral performance benchmarks stipulated under Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The plaintiffs maintained that political parties must either secure at least 25 percent of votes in a state during a presidential election or win at least one elective seat at the federal, state, or local government level to remain registered.
The ruling is expected to have significant political implications ahead of future elections, particularly for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who emerged as the ADC presidential candidate, and Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, who had earlier sought to be joined in the case but was denied by the court.
Reacting to the judgment, ADC spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi rejected the ruling, describing it as “a direct invitation to anarchy.” He disclosed that the party would challenge the decision through all available legal and constitutional channels.
The court’s decision follows months of legal proceedings surrounding the status of the affected parties, with plaintiffs insisting that INEC had failed in its constitutional responsibility by allowing parties that allegedly fell below the required electoral thresholds to remain on its register.
As of press time, INEC had not issued an official response on the implementation of the court order, while legal observers expect appeals that could prolong the matter and shape Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the next electoral cycle.
— Alert Global News