Anietie Udobit, Abuja
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately deregister five political parties for failing to meet constitutional requirements.
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Justice Peter Lifu delivered the judgment in a suit filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators. The court ruled that the affected parties failed to secure the mandatory vote thresholds during the last general elections.
The five affected political parties are:
- African Democratic Congress (ADC)
- Accord Party (AP)
- Action Alliance (AA)
- Action Peoples Party (APP)
- Zenith Labour Party (ZLP)
In his dynamic ruling, Justice Lifu held that the continuous existence of political parties is strictly tied to their performance at the polls. Under Nigerian law, parties must win at least one legislative seat or secure 25 percent of the votes in at least one state during a general election.
The court found that the five parties fell short of these statutory requirements. Justice Lifu stated that INEC is legally obligated to prune the political landscape of inactive parties to reduce the administrative burden on taxpayers.
The judicial directive has sent immediate shockwaves through Nigeria’s political landscape. It directly disrupts early alignment strategies ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Most notably, the ruling deals a severe blow to the newly formed opposition mega-alliance. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had recently announced former Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, as his 2027 running mate under the platform of the now-affected ADC.
Political analysts state that this judgment effectively invalidates that ticket. It forces the opposition coalition back to the drawing board to seek alternative, legally recognized political platforms.
Reacting to the development, counsel to the plaintiffs praised the judgment. They described it as a victory for the rule of law and a necessary step toward sanitizing Nigeria’s electoral process.
However, representatives of the affected parties have expressed deep dissatisfaction with the ruling. In a joint statement issued shortly after the verdict, spokespersons for the ADC and Accord Party labeled the judgment as a “calculated attempt to suppress opposition voices.” They confirmed that their legal teams are already compiling grounds for an immediate appeal at the Court of Appeal.
INEC has not yet issued an official statement, but top sources within the commission indicate that the electoral umpire will comply with the certified true copy of the judgment once served, pending any superior court order.
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