Pat Stevens/
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties over their alleged failure to meet constitutional requirements for continued existence.
The ruling, delivered by Justice Peter Lifu, affects the ADC, Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
The court’s decision stems from a suit filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators, which argued that the affected parties no longer qualified to remain on Nigeria’s register of political parties because they failed to meet the electoral performance thresholds stipulated under Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022 and relevant INEC regulations.
The judgment has immediate and far-reaching political implications, particularly for the ADC, which has recently emerged as a major platform for opposition realignment ahead of the next presidential election.
At the centre of the legal battle was a fundamental constitutional question: can political parties that repeatedly fail to win elections or achieve minimum electoral benchmarks continue to enjoy official recognition?
The plaintiffs argued that the answer is no.
According to court filings, the former legislators maintained that the Constitution requires political parties to demonstrate a minimum level of electoral relevance by either securing at least 25 per cent of votes in one state during a presidential election or winning elective positions at the national, state or local government levels.
They contended that the affected parties failed to satisfy those requirements during the 2023 general election and subsequent electoral contests.
The plaintiffs further argued that INEC’s continued recognition of such parties was unconstitutional and undermined the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic process.
In its judgment, the court agreed and ordered the electoral commission to proceed with their deregistration.
The ruling represents one of the most consequential judicial interventions in Nigeria’s party system since INEC deregistered dozens of political parties in 2020 following constitutional amendments that empowered the commission to remove non-performing parties.
Political observers say the judgment could reshape calculations ahead of the 2027 elections by narrowing the number of available platforms for political actors seeking alliances, mergers or alternative routes to power.
The ADC, in particular, has attracted heightened political attention in recent months due to its growing profile within opposition circles and its role in ongoing coalition discussions.
Legal experts expect the affected parties to challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal, setting the stage for what could become a major constitutional contest over the future of Nigeria’s multi-party democracy.
As of the time of filing this report, INEC had not issued an official response to the judgment, while the affected political parties were yet to announce whether they would immediately appeal the decision.
With preparations for the 2027 elections gradually gathering momentum, the outcome of any appeal could prove decisive in determining whether the affected parties remain part of Nigeria’s political landscape or disappear from the ballot entirely.
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