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, Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) — for allegedly failing to meet constitutional requirements for continued registration.
Justice Peter Lifu ruled that the parties did not satisfy the performance thresholds outlined in Section 225A of the Constitution, which empowers INEC to deregister parties that fail to secure specified electoral results. The court also directed INEC to deregister any other party that fails to meet the constitutional benchmarks.
The judgment followed a suit filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators. According to the court, political parties that do not make meaningful contributions to Nigeria’s democratic process should not remain on the electoral register merely to increase the number of parties on the ballot.
The ruling, if implemented, would reduce the number of registered political parties in Nigeria from 22 to 17. Justice Lifu also dismissed objections raised by the affected parties, holding that no valid court order staying proceedings had been presented before the judgment was delivered.
The decision triggered strong reactions from opposition leaders and the affected parties. ADC National Chairman David Mark described the ruling as an attack on Nigeria’s democracy, insisting that the Court of Appeal would overturn the judgment and assuring supporters that the party would remain on the ballot in future elections.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s camp, Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, and leaders of Accord and APP also criticised the verdict, arguing that it undermines multiparty democracy and disregards a subsisting Court of Appeal order said to have stayed proceedings in the matter.
However, former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido defended the judgment, maintaining that court decisions should be respected and challenged only through lawful appeal processes. He argued that democratic institutions derive their authority from the Constitution and must be allowed to function without political interference.
