A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five political parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Accord Party, due to their poor performance in recent elections.
Court Ruling on Party Deregistration
Justice Peter Lifu delivered the judgment on Monday, ruling that the affected parties failed to meet the constitutional requirements for retaining their registration. The parties ordered to be deregistered are the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
The court found that these parties did not satisfy the conditions outlined in Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which include securing at least 25 percent of votes in a state during a presidential election, winning a seat in the National Assembly, a state House of Assembly, a local government chairmanship position, or a councillorship seat.
Lawsuit by Former Lawmakers
The ruling followed a lawsuit filed by a group of former lawmakers who argued that INEC is constitutionally obligated to remove political parties that fail to meet electoral performance benchmarks. The plaintiffs contended that allowing parties with virtually no electoral support to remain active crowds the political space and complicates Nigeria's voting system.
They argued that the five parties failed to meet these benchmarks during the 2023 general election and in subsequent by-elections conducted by INEC. The group further stated that permitting underperforming parties to remain on the register undermines the integrity of Nigeria's electoral process and goes against constitutional provisions.
Implications for 2027 Elections
The plaintiffs urged the court to compel INEC to deregister the parties before preparations for the 2027 general election gather pace. They also sought an order restraining the affected parties from participating in elections, conducting party primaries, organizing political rallies, or carrying out other political activities pending compliance with constitutional requirements.
Justice Lifu agreed with the plaintiffs' arguments and ordered INEC to deregister the five political parties. The ruling could have significant implications for Nigeria's political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections, particularly for smaller parties seeking to remain relevant in the country's multiparty democracy.
INEC has not yet publicly reacted to the court's decision at the time of filing this report.
