A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the Accord Party, and three other political parties over failure to meet constitutional requirements for continued political recognition.
Justice Peter Lifu, who delivered the judgment on Monday, also directed INEC to bar the affected parties from participating in future elections, citing their inability to meet electoral performance thresholds under Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution.
The affected parties include the ADC, Accord, Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
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The case was filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators, which asked the court to compel INEC to enforce provisions requiring political parties to meet minimum electoral standards to retain registration.
The court agreed with the plaintiffs that the parties failed to meet the constitutional benchmarks, including minimum vote requirements and electoral spread, and held that INEC must take immediate steps to enforce compliance.
The Attorney General of the Federation had earlier backed the suit in court filings, while INEC opposed the move, arguing that the conditions for deregistration must be strictly interpreted under the law.
The judgment is expected to trigger legal and political reactions, with the affected parties likely to head to the Court of Appeal to challenge the ruling.
The African Democratic Congress has in recent months faced internal political disputes and legal pressures, making the ruling a significant development ahead of the 2027 general elections.
