This post has already been read at least 11143 times!
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five political parties, a ruling that has intensified legal and political debates over the future of Nigeria’s multiparty democracy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu, the court directed INEC to remove the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party, Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) from its register, holding that the parties failed to satisfy constitutional requirements for continued recognition.
The suit was instituted by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators, which argued that the affected parties did not meet the electoral performance benchmarks prescribed by the Constitution and should therefore cease to operate as registered political parties.
A major twist in the proceedings was the position adopted by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), whose office threw its weight behind the suit.
Court documents showed that the AGF, who was joined as a defendant in the matter, filed processes supporting the action and urged the court to enforce the constitutional provisions governing political party registration and retention. The Attorney-General argued that political parties which fail to attain the minimum constitutional threshold for electoral performance should not remain on the register of political parties.
The AGF’s intervention became one of the defining features of the case, effectively aligning the Federal Government’s chief law officer with the plaintiff’s demand for the deregistration of the affected parties.
Justice Lifu subsequently upheld the arguments advanced by the plaintiff and ordered INEC to deregister the parties. The court further directed that the affected parties should not participate in future elections, including the 2027 general elections, unless the judgment is overturned on appeal.
The ruling has, however, generated strong opposition from the affected political parties and their supporters. The ADC, widely regarded as one of the emerging opposition platforms ahead of the next general election, rejected the judgment and vowed to challenge it through the appellate courts.
The controversy has been heightened by reports that the matter had earlier been affected by proceedings at the Court of Appeal, where an order relating to a stay of proceedings had been obtained by one of the affected parties before the eventual delivery of judgment by the Federal High Court.
Legal analysts say the dispute is far from over, noting that the appellate courts may ultimately determine whether the Federal High Court’s interpretation of the constitutional provisions on party deregistration can stand.
As political stakeholders await the next legal steps, attention has shifted to INEC and the likely appeals by the affected parties, with observers warning that the final outcome could have far-reaching implications for electoral competition and political participation in Nigeria.
The case is expected to remain one of the most closely watched political and constitutional disputes as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum.
This post has already been read at least 11143 times!
About the Author
