The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five political parties for failing to meet Nigeria’s statutory electoral performance standards.
In a ruling delivered by presiding judge Justice Peter Lifu, the court found that the organizations violated Section 225 of the Nigerian Constitution after failing to secure at least 25% of the votes during the previous general elections.
The five affected political entities stripped of registration are the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party (AP), Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
Judtice Lifu, who earlier dismissed all the multiple preliminary objections filed by the defendants, ordered INEC not to allow the parties to participate in the subsequent elections, including the 2027 general polls, having failed to meet the constitutional threshold.
A group, the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators, had filed the suit against the five political parties.
The plaintiff, who also joined the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) 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 were required to secure at least 25 per cent 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 the arguments.
