Abuja, Nigeria — In a landmark ruling, the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately deregister five political parties for failing to meet the constitutional benchmarks required to retain their registration status.
The judgement, delivered on Monday by Justice Peter Lifu, effectively bars the affected parties from participating in the upcoming 2027 general elections.
The ruling is a result of a high-profile lawsuit filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators (NFFL) (Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026). The plaintiffs argued that under Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), INEC is constitutionally mandated to remove political parties that consistently fail to meet required electoral performance thresholds.
To maintain their registration, parties are required to either win at least 25 per cent of the votes in a single state during a presidential election or secure at least one elective seat at the national, state, or local government level.
Which Parties Are Affected?
The court’s deregistration order applies to the following five political parties:
- African Democratic Congress (ADC)
- Accord Party (AP)
- Zenith Labour Party (ZLP)
- Action Alliance (AA)
- Action Peoples Party (APP)
In his ruling, Justice Lifu barred INEC from according any further official recognition to the listed parties. Furthermore, INEC is prohibited from accepting candidate nominations from these parties or allowing their participation in any official capacity in future general elections or by-elections.
The Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), who was listed as a defendant alongside INEC and the affected parties, had reportedly supported the suit during earlier hearings. The government argued that underperforming parties contribute to ballot congestion and waste public resources.
Can the Affected Parties Appeal?
Yes, the affected political parties have the constitutional right to appeal the judgment.
The Nigerian legal system allows parties dissatisfied with a Federal High Court decision to elevate the matter to the Court of Appeal, and potentially up to the Supreme Court. Historical precedent suggests that appeals are likely. In 2020, when INEC deregistered 74 political parties, the resulting legal battles led to conflicting judgements at the appellate level, eventually forcing the matter to the Supreme Court for final resolution.
The immediate impact of Monday’s ruling, however, throws a significant hurdle in front of prospective candidates under these platforms. For instance, the ruling complicates the platforms of prominent figures like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who was reportedly eyeing the 2027 presidential race on the ADC platform, and Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, who was billed to seek re-election.
Unless a higher court grants a stay of execution or overturns the judgment, the ADC, AP, ZLP, AA, and APP will remain deregistered and excluded from Nigeria’s political process.
Stay tuned to www.abtnews.net for ongoing coverage as this story develops.
Fact-checking Notes for Clarity:
- The Parties: The five affected parties are indeed the ADC, Accord Party, ZLP, AA, and APP.
- The Case: The suit was brought forward by the National Forum of Former Legislators under Section 225A of the Nigerian Constitution.
- The Judge: The ruling was delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
- Appeals: While specific appeal filings for this exact ruling haven’t been widely confirmed yet, the right to appeal to the Court of Appeal is a standard legal recourse in Nigeria, and it is highly expected given past precedents with INEC deregistration cases.
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