Court orders deregistration of ADC, AA, Accord, APP, ZLP

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By Madu Obi

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the deregistration of African Democratic Congress, ADC, and four other political parties for failing to meet constitutional requirements.

The other affected parties are the Action Alliance, AA, Accord Party, African People's Party, APP, and Zenith Labour Party, ZLP.

Justice Peter Lifu, who presided, ruled that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, must deregister them for failing to secure 25% of votes in the last general elections, which is a constitutional requirement.

Justice Lifu dismissed all preliminary objections by the defendants and barred INEC from allowing the five parties to contest subsequent elections, including the 2027 election.

The suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026 was filed by Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators.

The Attorney-General of the Federation was joined as plaintiff, while INEC was named the 1st defendant.

The forum had argued that the parties lacked the electoral spread and performance required by law, contending that parties must secure at least 25% of votes in prescribed elections to remain registered.

Urging the court to deregister the parties, the forum said that none of the defendants effectively countered the arguments.

This ruling came barely few hours after the ADC announced the confirmation of Chief Rotimi Amaechi, the former governor of Rivers State, as Alhaji Atiku Abubakar's running mate for 2027 election.