NEWS
Court Orders Deregistration of ADC, Accord and Three Other Parties, Throwing 2027 Political Calculations Into Uncertainty
A major political development has emerged ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general election and the 2026 Osun State governorship poll, as a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the deregistration of five political parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Accord Party.
The judgement, delivered on Monday by Justice Peter Lifu in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026, followed a legal action instituted by the National Forum of Former Legislators, which challenged the continued registration of political parties that allegedly failed to meet constitutional performance requirements.
Also affected by the ruling are the Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
The plaintiff had urged the court to determine whether the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was constitutionally bound to deregister political parties that failed to satisfy the conditions outlined in Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
In its argument, the National Forum of Former Legislators maintained that the affected parties consistently failed to meet the constitutional benchmarks necessary to retain their legal status as registered political parties. The group contended that the parties neither achieved the minimum electoral performance required by law nor secured elective positions at the federal, state, or local government levels.
The suit further relied on provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and relevant INEC regulations, which reinforce the constitutional standards governing the registration and continued existence of political parties in Nigeria.
According to the constitutional provisions cited before the court, political parties are expected to secure at least 25 per cent of votes cast in a state during a presidential election or win at least one elective office at the federal, state, or local government level to justify their continued registration.
The plaintiff argued that the ADC, Accord Party, APP, AA, and ZLP performed poorly during the 2023 general election and subsequent by-elections, failing to win seats across key levels of government. It maintained that their continued recognition as political parties was inconsistent with constitutional provisions and detrimental to the integrity of the nation’s electoral system.
Among the reliefs sought, the group requested a declaration that INEC is duty-bound to deregister political parties that fail to meet constitutional requirements. It also asked the court to compel the electoral commission to carry out the exercise before preparations for the 2027 elections progress further.
Additionally, the plaintiff sought orders restraining the affected parties from participating in elections or engaging in political activities, including campaigns, rallies, and primary elections, while also seeking to prevent INEC from recognising or dealing with them unless they comply fully with constitutional provisions.
In his ruling, Justice Lifu granted the reliefs sought and directed INEC to proceed with the deregistration of the five political parties.
The judgement is expected to have far-reaching political implications, particularly for politicians who have recently aligned themselves with some of the affected parties in anticipation of future elections.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar recently secured the ADC presidential ticket as part of ongoing efforts by opposition figures to build a coalition capable of challenging President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
Similarly, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke reportedly emerged as the Accord Party’s governorship candidate amid growing speculation over possible political realignments ahead of the state’s next governorship contest.
With the court ordering the deregistration of both parties alongside three others, the political future and electoral strategies of their members and prospective candidates may now face significant uncertainty, pending any appeal, stay of execution, or further legal proceedings that could alter the outcome of the judgement.