Court Orders INEC to Deregister ADC, Accord Party, Others Ahead of 2027 Elections
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party and three other political parties over alleged constitutional breaches.
Justice Peter Odo Lifu issued the order on Monday while delivering judgment in a suit filed by a group of former lawmakers under the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators (NFFL).
The judgment effectively throws the political future of some prominent politicians into uncertainty ahead of the 2027 general elections.
By the court’s decision, former Vice President and ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar is left without a political platform for the forthcoming presidential election.
Similarly, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, who is expected to seek re-election in the August 15 governorship election on the platform of the Accord Party, may also be affected by the ruling.
PulseNets learnt that the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026, was filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators against INEC and five political parties, namely the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action People’s Party (APP), Accord Party (AP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), and Action Alliance Party (AAP).
In the judgment, Justice Lifu restrained INEC from further recognising the affected parties, accepting nominations of candidates sponsored by them, or giving effect to any of their activities for the purpose of participating in the 2027 general elections.
The court also directed the affected parties to immediately stop presenting themselves as registered political parties in Nigeria.
PulseNets obtained court details showing that the NFFL had approached the court seeking an order compelling INEC to deregister the five political parties and prohibit them from engaging in political activities across the country.
The group based its case on alleged violations of provisions of the 1999 Constitution relating to the registration, recognition and continued existence of political parties.
Interestingly, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, despite being listed as a defendant in the suit, supported calls for the deregistration of the parties.
The AGF engaged Professor Joshua Olukayode Olatoke, SAN, who argued during proceedings that the affected parties should be removed from Nigeria’s political landscape.
INEC, however, opposed the suit, arguing that the plaintiff lacked the legal standing to institute the action and describing the case as unmeritorious.
PulseNets reported that the originating summons was brought pursuant to Section 225(A) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Section 75(4) of the Electoral Act 2022, and relevant provisions of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019.
At the centre of the dispute was whether INEC is constitutionally required to deregister political parties that fail to meet minimum electoral performance thresholds prescribed by law.
The thresholds include securing at least 25 per cent of votes cast in one state during a presidential election, winning a local government area in a governorship election, or obtaining at least one elective seat from councillorship level up to the National Assembly.
The plaintiff asked the court to determine whether INEC has both the power and obligation to enforce these constitutional requirements against parties that allegedly failed to secure any ward, legislative or elective positions in previous elections.
Other issues raised for determination included whether the affected parties remained eligible for legal recognition and whether INEC could lawfully acknowledge their congresses, primaries, campaigns and participation in the 2027 general elections without compliance with Section 225(A) of the Constitution.
Among the reliefs sought were declarations affirming that INEC is duty-bound to enforce constitutional benchmarks as a condition for party registration and electoral participation, alongside orders directing the electoral body to deregister the affected parties.
The plaintiff also sought mandatory and perpetual injunctions restraining INEC from recognising, accepting or acting upon any political activities, correspondence or nominations from the parties unless they fully complied with constitutional and statutory requirements.
In an affidavit deposed to by Igbokwe Raphael Nnanna, Chairman of the Board of Trustees and National Coordinator of the NFFL, the group accused INEC of failing in its constitutional responsibility by continuing to recognise parties that allegedly fell short of minimum electoral performance standards.
According to the affidavit, the affected parties have failed since their registration to win any elective office, including presidential, governorship, National Assembly, state assembly, local government chairmanship or councillorship positions.
The affidavit further claimed that the parties failed to secure the constitutionally required 25 per cent of votes in at least one state during presidential elections and lacked representation across Nigeria’s 8,809 wards, 774 local government areas, 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Hon. Nnanna maintained that despite what he described as “total electoral failures,” INEC continued to accord the parties full recognition, a situation the group argued was inconsistent with the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022 and INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties 2022.
The former lawmakers also warned that allowing the affected parties to participate in future elections could unnecessarily increase the size of ballot papers, place additional pressure on electoral administration and create confusion among voters.
They argued that the continued existence of non-performing political parties weakens electoral integrity, undermines genuine political competition and contributes to wasteful public spending.
Describing the matter as a public interest suit, the NFFL urged the court to compel INEC to enforce constitutional compliance by deregistering political parties that fail to meet stipulated electoral thresholds.
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During proceedings, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Yakubu Abdullahi Ruba, supported by Barrister Gbenga Makanjuola, argued on behalf of the former lawmakers and urged the court to proscribe the five parties.
However, Musibau Adetunmibi, SAN, and Shuaib Eneojo Aruwa, SAN, who represented the Accord Party and African Democratic Congress respectively, urged the court to dismiss the suit, describing it as frivolous, baseless and unwarranted.
