Labour Party chieftain Abayomi Arabambi has warned that any court judgment ordering the deregistration of five political parties could trigger political instability and deepen tensions ahead of future elections in Nigeria.
Arabambi, who spoke during a press briefing in Abuja on Saturday, said the planned judgment by the Federal High Court on June 5 over the fate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), Accord Party and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) could have far-reaching consequences for Nigeria’s democratic system.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2025, was filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators against the Independent National Electoral Commission, the Attorney General of the Federation and the affected political parties.
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Justice Peter Odo Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja had earlier fixed June 5, 2026, for judgment after dismissing separate applications for joinder and stay of proceedings filed by interested parties, including Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and Arabambi.
Speaking to journalists, Arabambi accused those behind the suit of attempting to weaken opposition politics in the country.
“Those pushing for the deregistration of these political parties are pursuing chaos. They want political insurrection. They are enemies of our democratic order,” he said.
The Labour Party factional South-West National Vice Chairman also questioned the legal standing of the plaintiffs, arguing that the National Forum of Former Legislators lacked the authority to institute the case on behalf of Nigerians.
According to him, the organisation was formed after the 2023 general elections, which form the basis of the legal dispute, and therefore lacks the moral and constitutional basis to seek the deregistration of political parties.
Arabambi disclosed that he had already filed an appeal challenging the court’s decision to dismiss his application seeking to join the matter as an interested party.
Justice Lifu had ruled that the applications filed by Arabambi, Adeleke and other parties were unnecessary because the political parties involved were already represented in the suit.
The plaintiffs, through their counsel, Yakubu Abdullahi Ruba (SAN), are asking the court to compel INEC to deregister the parties for allegedly failing to satisfy constitutional requirements relating to electoral performance and spread.
According to the suit, the parties failed to secure at least 25 per cent of votes in any state during the presidential election and also failed to win elective offices as required under provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.
However, the affected parties have strongly opposed the move, insisting that deregistration would amount to political suppression and weaken democratic participation.
Arabambi warned that removing smaller parties from the political space could reduce electoral choices for Nigerians and concentrate political power in the hands of dominant parties.
“Any judgment made on June 5 to deregister the ADC, AA, APP, Accord Party and Zenith Labour Party will undermine the unity of Nigeria, halt our democracy and precipitate instability,” he stated.
He also alleged that the case was politically motivated and aimed at influencing future electoral contests, including the re-election calculations of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other major political actors ahead of the next election cycle.
The Labour Party chieftain further called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the National Judicial Council to closely monitor the proceedings and review all processes connected to the case.
The legal battle has generated growing debate within political circles, with analysts warning that any major reduction in the number of registered political parties could reshape Nigeria’s opposition landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has yet to publicly indicate its position on the pending judgment.
