The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five political parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Justice Peter Lifu delivered the judgment and directed INEC to remove the parties from its register. He also barred them from participating in future elections, including the 2027 general elections.
The other parties affected by the ruling are Accord, Action Alliance, Action Peoples Party and Zenith Labour Party.
The court held that the parties failed to satisfy constitutional and statutory requirements governing the continued existence of political parties in Nigeria.
Justice Lifu said the parties did not meet the electoral benchmarks prescribed by law. According to the judgment, they failed to secure at least 25 per cent of votes in the relevant elections as required under the Constitution.
Before ruling on the substantive issues, the judge dismissed several preliminary objections filed by the defendants.
The Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators instituted the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026.
The group named INEC as the first defendant. It also joined the five political parties and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) as defendants in the case.
The plaintiff argued that the affected parties no longer met the constitutional conditions required to remain registered.
According to the forum, their poor electoral performance showed a lack of national support and reach. It maintained that political parties must attain specific electoral benchmarks to justify their continued recognition under Nigeria’s democratic framework.
The group further argued that the parties failed to effectively challenge the substance of the claims brought against them despite being served with the court processes.
In his judgment, Justice Lifu agreed with the plaintiff’s position and ruled that the parties had fallen below the constitutional threshold required for continued registration. He consequently ordered INEC to deregister them and exclude them from future elections.
The judgment is expected to have significant implications for Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Observers say the ruling could reduce the number of registered political parties. It may also reshape alliances among smaller political groups seeking greater electoral influence.
As of the time of filing this report, neither INEC nor the affected political parties had issued an official reaction to the judgment.
The decision marks one of the most significant judicial interventions in Nigeria’s party system in recent years. It could also trigger fresh legal and political debates over the constitutional provisions governing political party registration and survival.
