By Motto Oghenekparobo,
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) and Accord Party, for allegedly failing to meet constitutional requirements for continued existence as registered political parties.
In a judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu, the court directed INEC to remove the affected parties from its register, ruling that they failed to attain the electoral benchmarks stipulated by the Constitution.
The parties affected by the order are the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party, Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
Justice Lifu held that the parties did not satisfy the constitutional threshold required for political parties to retain their registration, noting that the Constitution empowers INEC to deregister parties that fail to win elective offices or meet prescribed electoral performance standards.
The court consequently ordered the electoral commission to take immediate steps to implement the judgment and barred the affected parties from participating in future elections, including the 2027 general elections.
The suit was instituted by the National Forum of Former Legislators, which argued that the parties no longer met the constitutional conditions necessary for their continued recognition by INEC.
The plaintiffs contended that maintaining parties that had failed to achieve the required electoral performance undermined the spirit and provisions of the Constitution.
However, both INEC and the affected political parties opposed the suit and urged the court to dismiss it. While the parties described the action as lacking merit, INEC challenged the plaintiffs' legal standing to institute the case.
Reacting to the judgment, the ADC rejected the ruling and signalled its intention to challenge the decision at the appellate court.
Party officials maintained that the judgment would be contested through appropriate legal channels, expressing confidence that it would eventually be overturned.
The ruling is expected to generate significant political debate and could have far-reaching implications for Nigeria's electoral landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections, particularly for opposition parties and aspirants seeking alternative political platforms.
Political observers say the judgment, if upheld on appeal, could reshape the configuration of political parties and alliances in the run-up to the next electoral cycle.
