Federal High Court Adjourns Suit on Deregistration of ADC, Other Political Parties
The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned a significant legal case that seeks the deregistration of several political parties over alleged constitutional breaches. The matter, which was initially scheduled for mention before Justice Peter Lifu, was not heard and has now been rescheduled for February 24, 2026, for further proceedings.
Legal Grounds and Constitutional Interpretation
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/25, was filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators (NFFL) against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Attorney-General of the Federation, and five political parties. These parties include the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party, Zenith Labour Party, and Action Alliance.
Speaking to journalists after the stalled hearing, counsel for the plaintiff, Yakubu Ruba (SAN), emphasized that the suit was aimed at securing judicial interpretation of constitutional provisions governing party registration. "We are before the court purely for constitutional interpretation. Some parties, in our view, have acted in breach of the Constitution, and we seek the court's guidance on the relevant provisions," Ruba stated.
Core Dispute Over Electoral Performance Thresholds
At the heart of the dispute is whether INEC is constitutionally required to deregister political parties that fail to meet minimum electoral performance thresholds. These thresholds, as outlined in court documents, include:
- Securing at least 25 percent of votes in one state during a presidential election
- Winning a local government area in a governorship election
- Clinching at least one seat in elections ranging from councillorship to the National Assembly
The plaintiff argued that the affected parties had failed to win any ward, legislative seat, or elective office in previous elections. In an affidavit supporting the suit, Hon. Igbokwe Nnanna, Chairman of the Board of Trustees and National Coordinator of the NFFL, accused INEC of neglecting its constitutional duty by continuing to recognize parties that had not met the required thresholds.
Reliefs Sought and Potential Implications
The plaintiffs have requested declaratory orders affirming that INEC must enforce constitutional benchmarks as a precondition for party registration and participation in elections. They also sought mandatory injunctions restraining INEC from recognizing or accepting political activities from the affected parties unless they complied fully with constitutional and statutory requirements.
The forum warned that unless the court intervened, INEC might allow the parties to participate in the 2027 general elections, which it claimed could "clog the ballot papers, overstretch administrative resources and mislead voters."
Related Development: ADC Suspends State Chairman
In a related development, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Ogun State has suspended its chairman, Femi Soluade, after unanimously passing a vote of no confidence in him. According to the ADC Publicity Secretary, Olumide Onabajo, Soluade was suspended from office pending the outcome of investigations into allegations levelled against him.
Onabajo stated that Soluade was suspended over involvement in leading armed men to disrupt the governorship declaration of Jimi Lawal on Saturday, February 14, 2026, at the Intercontinental Hotel in Abeokuta.
The case is expected to test the constitutional limits of INEC's powers and could have significant implications for the recognition and participation of political parties in Nigeria's future elections. The adjournment to February 24, 2026, sets the stage for what promises to be a landmark legal proceeding in Nigeria's electoral landscape.
