Maha Christopher
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five political parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC), over their failure to meet constitutional requirements for political parties.
According to Channels, Justice Peter Lifu delivered the judgment, ruling that the affected parties failed to secure the minimum electoral threshold required under the law.
The parties affected by the ruling are the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord (A), Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
Justice Lifu also directed INEC not to allow the parties to participate in future elections, including the 2027 general elections, on the grounds that they failed to satisfy constitutional provisions relating to electoral performance.
The suit was filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators, which challenged the continued registration of the parties.
INEC and the Attorney General of the Federation were joined as defendants in the case.
The plaintiff argued that the affected parties failed to meet constitutional requirements on electoral spread and performance, including the obligation to secure at least 25 per cent of votes in prescribed elections.
According to the group, the parties no longer met the conditions required to maintain their registration and should therefore be removed from the list of recognised political parties.
In his ruling, Justice Lifu dismissed the preliminary objections raised by the defendants before granting the reliefs sought by the plaintiff.
The judgment effectively directs INEC to commence the deregistration process for the five political parties in line with the court’s order.
