Lead Paragraph:
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five political parties — the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party, Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) — for failing to meet the minimum constitutional requirements for continued registration under Section 225(a) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution.
What the Court Decided
Justice Peter Lifu delivered the landmark judgment on Monday, June 15, 2026, ruling that all five parties failed to win any elective positions or secure at least 25 percent of votes cast in the previous round of federal, state, and local government elections — the threshold required under Nigerian law for a party to remain on INEC’s register.
The court ordered INEC to:
- Immediately remove the five parties from the official register of political parties
- Activate all mechanisms necessary to carry out the deregistration
- Refuse all future correspondence from the affected parties
- Deregister any other party that fails to meet the constitutional minimum threshold
Who Filed the Suit
The suit was filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators, with the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, joining as a defendant but ultimately supporting the deregistration. The plaintiffs were represented by Yakubu Ruba (SAN).
Impact on 2027 Elections and Upcoming Governorship Polls
The ruling carries significant consequences for Nigerian politics ahead of the 2027 general elections and the off-cycle governorship elections scheduled for Ekiti State (June 2026) and Osun State (August 2026).
Among the most prominent figures affected:
- Atiku Abubakar — former Vice President and recently declared ADC presidential candidate for 2027
- Ademola Adeleke — incumbent Osun State Governor seeking re-election on the Accord Party platform in August 2026
If immediately enforced, the judgment would automatically disqualify all candidates running under the five affected parties, dramatically reshaping the 2027 election landscape.
Court Dismisses Appeal Court Stay Order
Before delivering the judgment, Justice Lifu addressed arguments from the respondents citing a Court of Appeal order — issued May 22, 2026 by a three-member panel — directing the trial court to stay proceedings pending an interlocutory appeal by the Accord Party.
The judge dismissed the argument, noting that no certified copy of the stay order had been served on the trial court before parties adopted their final written addresses. He ruled there was no legal basis to halt the judgment.
“The position of the law is that the rules of court do not provide for the arrest of judgment,” Justice Lifu stated, adding that all defendants had fully participated in proceedings, making fair hearing a settled matter.
Why the Court Ruled This Way
Justice Lifu held that the language of Section 225(a) of the Nigerian Constitution is “plain, direct, express and simple” and must be interpreted literally. He warned against the proliferation of political parties that fail to promote genuine democratic participation.
“Any tendency to pollute the political environment by exploiting uninformed members of the electorate must be frowned upon by the court,” he declared.
What Happens Next
The affected parties are expected to appeal the ruling. INEC has not yet issued a public statement on the timeline for implementing the court order. Legal analysts expect the case to proceed to the Court of Appeal and potentially the Supreme Court before any final enforcement.
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