A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party and others from participating in the 2027 general elections over alleged constitutional breaches.
Justice Justice Peter Odo Lifu issued the order on Monday while delivering judgment in a suit filed by a group of former lawmakers in the country.
The ruling, if it stands affects former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is the presidential candidate of the ADC, and Governor Ademola Adeleke, the governorship candidate of Accord party in the forthcoming election in Osun State.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026, was instituted by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and several political parties, including the ADC, Action Alliance, APP, Accord Party and Zenith Labour Party.
In granting the prayers of the litigants, the court rules for the INEC to deregister the political parties for breach of section 225 of the constitution.
It was the position of the plaintiff that the five political parties listed as defendants in the matter had persistently failed to meet the constitutional benchmarks required to retain their registration.
The former legislators stressed that the requirements include winning at least 25 per cent of votes in a state during a presidential election or securing at least one elective seat at the national, state, or local government level.
They told the court that the ADC and the four other parties performed poorly in both the 2023 general elections and by-elections conducted by INEC, thereby failing to win seats across key tiers of government.
The litigants insisted that the continued existence of the ADC and the other defendants as recognised political parties is unlawful and undermines the integrity of the country’s electoral system.
(Ripples)
