A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five political parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC), for failing to meet constitutional electoral performance thresholds.
Justice Peter Lifu, delivering judgment on Monday, directed INEC to deregister the ADC, Accord (A), Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), after finding that none of the parties secured the mandatory 25 per cent of votes in the last general elections as required by law.
The court further barred the affected parties from participating in future elections, including the 2027 general polls.
Justice Lifu dismissed all preliminary objections filed by the defendants before proceeding to rule in favour of the plaintiff — the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators — which had filed suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026 against the five parties, joining the Attorney-General of the Federation and naming INEC as the first defendant.
The forum argued that the parties failed to meet constitutional requirements on electoral spread and performance, noting that none of the defendants effectively countered its submissions.
