A court ruling that invalidated the African Democratic Congress Accord Party, Action Peoples Party, Action Alliance and Zenith Labour Party on Monday sparked an outrage from members of the opposition parties, who described the decision as controversial and a threat to Nigeria’s democratic process.
Osun State governor, Ademola Adeleke and the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, Senator David Mark, faulted the Federal High Court Abuja judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission to deregister the five political parties, warning that the development could have far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s democracy.
Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the ADC, Atiku Abubakar, also condemned the judgment, saying it was a threat to Nigeria’s multiparty democracy and an attempt to weaken opposition forces ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The court order followed a judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu.
The National Forum of Former Legislators had in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026 prayed the court to determine whether INEC has a constitutional obligation to remove political parties that failed to meet the electoral performance thresholds set out in Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), as reinforced by the Electoral Act 2022 and INEC’s regulations.
