A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties for allegedly failing to meet constitutional requirements for political party registration and continued existence in Nigeria.
Delivering judgment on Monday, Justice Peter Lifu held that the affected parties failed to secure the minimum electoral threshold required under the law and were therefore no longer eligible to remain registered political parties.
The court consequently directed INEC to immediately deregister the parties and bar them from participating in future elections, including the 2027 general election.
The affected parties are the African Democratic Congress, Accord Party, Action Alliance, Action Peoples Party, and Zenith Labour Party.
Justice Lifu dismissed all preliminary objections filed by the defendants before proceeding to judgment and ruled that the parties had failed to satisfy constitutional provisions requiring political parties to demonstrate a prescribed level of electoral support.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026, was instituted by the National Forum of Former Legislators, which sought an order compelling INEC to deregister the parties for allegedly failing to meet constitutional benchmarks relating to electoral performance and national spread.
According to the plaintiffs, political parties are required to secure at least 25 per cent of votes in relevant elections to justify their continued registration and participation in Nigeria's democratic process.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and the Federation and Independent National Electoral Commission were joined as parties in the suit.
The judgment is expected to generate significant political reactions as preparations for the 2027 general election intensify, while also raising questions about the future of smaller political parties and the enforcement of constitutional provisions governing party registration and electoral performance.
