FEDERAL HIGH COURT UPHOLDS DEREGISTRATION OF FIVE PARTIES

FEDERAL HIGH COURT UPHOLDS DEREGISTRATION OF FIVE PARTIES

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties over their alleged failure to meet constitutional requirements for political participation in Nigeria.

The presiding judge, Justice Peter Lifu, in his judgment, directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the affected parties for failing to secure 25 per cent of votes in the last general elections, in line with provisions of the law.

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

Justice Lifu, who earlier dismissed all preliminary objections filed by the defendants, further ordered INEC not to allow the parties to participate in future elections, including the 2027 general elections, having failed to meet the required constitutional threshold.

The suit was filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators, who also joined the Attorney-General of the Federation as a party to the case, with INEC named as the first defendant.

The plaintiffs argued that the political parties failed to meet constitutional requirements relating to electoral spread and performance, insisting that parties must secure at least 25 per cent of votes in prescribed elections to remain legally recognized.

They therefore urged the court to order the deregistration of the affected parties, maintaining that the defendants did not successfully challenge their claims.

Meanwhile, the court ruling grants the affected parties the right of appeal against the judgment.

Source NTA