A federal high court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties for failing to meet constitutional performance thresholds.
The affected parties are the Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
A group of former lawmakers had asked the court to determine whether INEC is constitutionally required to deregister parties that do not satisfy the performance conditions set out in section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). Under the provision, parties must, among other things, secure at least 25 percent of votes in a state in a presidential election or win elective offices at the national, state or local government levels.
The plaintiffs argued the five parties failed to meet the required standards in the 2023 general election and subsequent by-elections, and that permitting them to remain registered was contrary to the constitution and harmful to the integrity of the electoral process. They also sought orders restraining the parties from contesting elections, holding primaries, organising rallies or engaging in other political activities until they complied with constitutional requirements.
In his judgment, Justice Peter Lifu upheld the plaintiffs’ arguments and ordered INEC to deregister the five parties.
INEC and representatives of the affected parties did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
