A fresh political storm has erupted in Abuja following a Federal High Court judgment ordering the deregistration of five political parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC), with opposition leaders insisting the ruling will not stand.
The controversy follows a judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister ADC, Accord Party, Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) over alleged failure to meet constitutional requirements for continued registration.
However, key political actors have rejected the decision, describing it as flawed, premature, and a threat to Nigeria’s multi-party democracy.
Former Senate President and ADC National Chairman, Senator David Mark, has declared that the party will remain on the ballot for the 2027 general elections despite the court ruling.
Speaking through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, Mark assured party members and supporters that the judgment represents only a temporary setback.
“The ADC will be on the ballot in 2027. This judgment is a temporary setback and will be overturned on appeal,” he said.
Mark maintained that the party remains committed to the rule of law and democratic participation, insisting that the ruling raises serious questions about due process and political fairness.
He also argued that an earlier Court of Appeal order had already halted proceedings in the case, suggesting that the final decision remains contested.
Describing the ruling as “an arrow fired at the heart of Nigeria’s democracy,” Mark warned that the judgment could undermine citizens’ political choices if allowed to stand.
Adeleke Faults Judgment, Cites Appeal Court Order
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, also rejected the ruling, describing it as an abuse of court process and a violation of an existing order from the Court of Appeal.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke insisted that the appellate court had already issued a stay of proceedings, making the Federal High Court judgment questionable.
He urged members of the Accord Party to remain calm, expressing confidence that the appeal court would resolve the matter in favour of the party.
Our rights will be affirmed. We will be on the ballot and we will win overwhelmingly,” Adeleke said.
Human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, also condemned the judgment, describing it as undemocratic and harmful to Nigeria’s multi-party system.
Sowore argued that political parties that have already conducted primaries and are preparing for elections should not be removed through judicial decisions.
He described the ruling as inconsistent with democratic principles and warned against what he called judicial interference in political competition.
The ruling has triggered renewed debate over Section 225 of the 1999 Constitution, which empowers INEC to deregister political parties that fail to win elective positions at federal, state, or local government levels.
Justice Lifu ruled that the affected parties had failed to meet the constitutional threshold required to remain registered and directed INEC to strike them off its official list.
However, with appeals already underway and conflicting interpretations of court orders, the legal battle is expected to continue ahead of the 2027 elections.
With ADC, Accord Party, APP, AA, and ZLP all indicating plans to challenge the ruling, the case is set to escalate to the appellate court, potentially shaping the future of Nigeria’s multi-party democracy.
Observers say the outcome could have far-reaching implications for electoral participation, party regulation, and INEC’s authority in upcoming elections.
