Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, the member representing Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency of Imo State, has strongly criticized the Federal High Court in Abuja for ordering the deregistration of five political parties. The lawmaker, who also serves as the national leader of the Action Peoples Party (APP), described the judgement as an invitation to anarchy and a direct threat to Nigeria's democratic order.
Background of the Judgement
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had earlier ordered the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), Accord Party, and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP). The ruling cited alleged failure to meet constitutional requirements for continued registration. The suit was filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators, which sought to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove these parties from its register.
Reacting to the judgement in an interview in Abuja, Ugochinyere warned that if allowed to stand, the ruling could push the country towards a dangerous path reminiscent of periods of political instability in Nigeria and other parts of Africa. He emphasized that democracy cannot thrive when legitimate political parties are excluded from the electoral process through judicial pronouncements that disregard superior court decisions.
Ugochinyere's Concerns
“Our nation cannot be allowed to degenerate to that level. This judgment is an invitation to anarchy. Political parties cannot simply be wiped out in a democracy because that is not what democracy represents,” he stated. The federal lawmaker maintained that APP and the affected political parties would remain validly registered entities and would participate in future elections. He insisted that multiple court decisions had already settled the constitutional requirements for political parties to retain their registration.
Ugochinyere claimed that at least three Federal High Court judgments, a Court of Appeal decision, and a Supreme Court ruling had interpreted Section 225A of the Constitution. These rulings concluded that political parties which secured electoral victories—including councillorship, chairmanship, state assembly, House of Representatives, or other elective positions—could not be deregistered.
Allegations Against the Judge
The lawmaker accused Justice Lifu of ignoring these judicial precedents, as well as submissions by INEC, which he said acknowledged that the affected parties had met constitutional requirements. He argued that INEC informed the court that ADC won two House of Representatives seats in Kogi State during the 2023 elections, while APP secured a local government chairmanship seat in Jigawa State. According to him, Accord Party won a seat in the Imo State House of Assembly, and other affected parties also recorded electoral victories that satisfied constitutional thresholds.
“INEC itself told the court that these parties met the constitutional requirements. Yet the judgment proceeded regardless. That is why many Nigerians are worried about the implications for democracy and the rule of law,” he stated.
The APP leader further alleged that the judge proceeded with the matter despite a Court of Appeal order staying proceedings pending the determination of an appeal challenging aspects of the case. He claimed that lawyers were notified at short notice to appear for judgment delivery, despite the existence of the appellate court order.
Call for NJC Intervention
Describing the development as unprecedented, Ugochinyere urged the National Judicial Council (NJC) to convene an emergency meeting to investigate the circumstances surrounding the judgment and take disciplinary action if necessary. He also called on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to defend the integrity of the judiciary, warning that public confidence in the justice system could be eroded if allegations of disregard for superior court decisions are left unaddressed.
“The judiciary remains the last hope of the common man. If judgments of superior courts can be ignored, then we are endangering one of the most important institutions of our democracy,” he said.
Future Plans for Affected Parties
The lawmaker maintained that neither APP nor the other affected political parties would cease political activities on account of the judgment. He insisted that they would continue preparations for future elections while pursuing legal remedies. He warned against attempts to narrow Nigeria's democratic space ahead of the 2027 general election, arguing that citizens must be allowed a broad range of political choices.
“Let all political parties participate and let Nigerians decide who they want. Democracy is about participation and competition, not exclusion,” he said.
Ugochinyere added that Nigeria's democratic journey had been shaped by hard-fought struggles against authoritarian tendencies. He cautioned against actions capable of reviving memories of political crises that had threatened national stability in the past. He appealed to judicial authorities, legal practitioners, and democratic stakeholders to act swiftly to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process and preserve public confidence in the nation's democratic institutions.
