BREAKING: Fresh Trouble for Atiku as Court Orders INEC to Deregister ADC, Four Other Parties

• A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties over alleged failure to meet constitutional electoral requirements.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties.

The affected parties are the Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

The order followed a judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu in a suit filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026, the plaintiffs asked the court to determine whether INEC has a constitutional obligation to deregister political parties that fail to meet electoral performance requirements under Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022, and INEC regulations.

According to the plaintiffs, the five parties failed to meet the constitutional thresholds required to retain their registration.

The former lawmakers argued that political parties are expected to secure at least 25 per cent of votes in a state during a presidential election or win at least one elective seat at the national, state, or local government level.

They told the court that the ADC and the other affected parties performed poorly in the 2023 general elections and subsequent by-elections, failing to win seats across key levels of government.

The plaintiffs maintained that the continued recognition of the parties undermines the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system.

Among the reliefs sought, they urged the court to declare that INEC is duty-bound to deregister parties that fail to satisfy constitutional requirements.

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They also asked the court to restrain the affected parties from participating in elections or conducting political activities, including campaigns, rallies, and primaries.

In addition, they sought an injunction preventing INEC from recognising or dealing with the parties unless they comply fully with constitutional provisions.

The ruling could have significant implications for the 2027 general elections, particularly for politicians seeking to contest on the platforms of the affected parties, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.