Fresh controversy has emerged following a Federal High Court ruling ordering the deregistration of five political parties, as party leaders and political figures rejected the decision and pledged to pursue legal remedies. The judgment has intensified debate over the future of Nigeria’s multi-party democracy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party, and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) from its register. The court ruled that the affected parties no longer met the constitutional requirements necessary to retain their registration status.
Reacting to the judgment, ADC National Chairman, Senator David Mark, described the ruling as a temporary setback and expressed confidence that it would be overturned through the judicial process. Speaking through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, after meeting ADC candidates in Abuja, Mark assured party members that the ADC would participate in the 2027 elections.
“The ADC will be on the ballot in 2027. I assure all our candidates, members and supporters that this temporary setback will be overcome through the judicial process. We remain resolute and confident in the rule of law,” he said.
Mark argued that the ruling raised concerns about due process, noting that the Court of Appeal had earlier granted a stay of proceedings and fixed October 27, 2027, for further hearing. He described the judgment as “an arrow fired at the heart of Nigeria’s democracy.”
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, also criticized the ruling, insisting that it violated a subsisting Court of Appeal order. In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, the governor maintained that legal records before the court showed that proceedings were still active at the appellate level.
Adeleke urged Accord Party supporters to remain calm, expressing confidence that the appeal process would restore the party’s status before upcoming elections. Meanwhile, Omoyele Sowore condemned the judgment, describing it as inconsistent with democratic principles.
“I totally condemn the deregistration of political parties that have already concluded their primaries and are preparing for general elections. Such an action is undemocratic and unjustifiable in a multi-party democracy,” Sowore stated.
The ruling has renewed discussions about INEC’s constitutional powers under Section 225 of the 1999 Constitution and the balance between electoral regulation and political participation. With ADC, Accord Party and other stakeholders preparing appeals, the legal battle over the status of the affected parties is expected to continue, potentially shaping the political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections.
As opposition parties challenge the court’s decision, attention is now shifting to the appellate courts, where the future of the affected parties and broader questions about Nigeria’s democratic space may ultimately be decided.
