By Ado Oyeyemi
The Federal High Court in Abuja has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission to deregister five political parties, including the African Democratic Congress, for failing to satisfy constitutional requirements governing political party participation in Nigeria.
Delivering judgment on Monday, Justice Peter Lifu held that the affected parties did not meet the electoral performance benchmark stipulated by law, particularly the requirement to secure at least 25 per cent of votes in relevant elections.
The parties affected by the ruling are the African Democratic Congress, Accord Party, Action Alliance, Action Peoples Party and Zenith Labour Party.
The judge also barred the parties from participating in future elections, including the 2027 general elections, on the grounds that they failed to attain the constitutional threshold necessary to retain their registration status.
Before reaching the decision, Justice Lifu dismissed several preliminary objections raised by the defendants, clearing the way for determination of the substantive issues brought before the court.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026, was instituted by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators. The group named INEC as the first defendant and also joined the Attorney-General of the Federation in the action.
The plaintiff argued that the affected political parties had failed to demonstrate the electoral spread and level of support required under the Constitution to remain recognised political organisations.
According to the group, political parties are expected to attain a minimum electoral performance benchmark to justify their continued existence on the nation’s political landscape.
It maintained that none of the parties successfully challenged the claims presented before the court and urged the judiciary to compel INEC to remove them from its register.
Justice Lifu subsequently granted the reliefs sought by the plaintiff and ordered the electoral commission to proceed with the deregistration of the five parties.
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