The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties for failing to meet the constitutional requirements for political parties in the country.
A faction of the ADC is fielding a former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections, while another has Mr. Dumebi Kachiku as its candidate.
In a judgement on Monday, Justice Peter Lifu ordered INEC to deregister the affected parties, having failed to secure 25% of the votes in the last general elections in compliance with the provisions of the law.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the other political parties are the Accord, Action Alliance, Action Peoples Party and Zenith Labour Party.
Justice Lifu, who earlier dismissed all the preliminary objections filed by the defendants, ordered INEC not to allow the parties to participate in subsequent elections, including the 2027 general elections, having failed to meet the constitutional threshold.
The Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators filed the suit against the five political parties.
The plaintiff, who also joined the Attorney-General of the Federation in the suit, named INEC as the first defendant.
The forum argued that the affected political parties failed to meet constitutional requirements relating to electoral spread and performance.
It contended that political parties are required to secure at least 25% of votes in prescribed elections to remain relevant under the law.
It therefore urged the court to order the deregistration of the parties, insisting that none of the defendants had effectively countered its arguments.
