Court Orders INEC to Deregister ADC, Four Other Political Parties

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five political parties, a decision that could significantly alter Nigeria's political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The ruling was delivered on Monday, June 15, 2026, by Justice Peter Lifu, who directed INEC to remove the affected parties from its register and prevent them from participating in future elections, including the 2027 polls.

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

The case was brought before the court by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators, which argued that the parties had failed to meet constitutional requirements needed to maintain their registration. The group insisted that the parties neither secured the required electoral performance nor won enough positions to justify their continued existence as recognised political parties.

In his judgment, Justice Lifu agreed with the plaintiffs and held that INEC has a constitutional duty to enforce Section 225A of the Constitution, which provides grounds for the deregistration of political parties that fail to meet prescribed electoral thresholds.

The judge further ruled that the affected parties had failed to satisfy the constitutional benchmarks required to remain registered political parties in Nigeria. As a result, he ordered INEC to strike them off its register and stop them from fielding candidates in future elections.

The decision immediately sparked reactions, particularly because of the inclusion of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which has recently emerged as a major opposition platform.

Reacting to the judgment, ADC publicity secretary Bolaji Abdullahi strongly rejected the ruling and announced plans to challenge it in court.

He described the judgment as "a direct invitation to anarchy" and said the party would pursue every legal and constitutional avenue available to overturn the decision.

The ruling comes at a politically sensitive time as parties and politicians continue positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 elections. While supporters of the judgment argue that political parties must meet constitutional requirements to remain on the ballot, critics say the decision could further narrow Nigeria's political space and reduce the options available to voters.

For now, the fate of the five parties remains uncertain. With appeals expected in the coming days, the legal battle over their survival is far from over.

But one thing is clear: Monday's judgment has added a fresh twist to Nigeria's already evolving political landscape, and its impact could be felt well beyond the courtroom.

© 2026 Aliu Azeema |

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