A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five political parties, a development that could significantly alter the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The affected parties are the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party, Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
The ruling places the presidential ambitions of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the ADC’s presidential candidate for 2027, and his running mate, former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, in jeopardy unless the judgment is overturned on appeal.
Also affected is the presidential candidate of the Accord Party, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, whose bid for Nigeria’s highest office now faces uncertainty.
In addition, Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, may be unable to contest the August 2026 governorship election on the platform of the Accord Party, where he is seeking a second term.
Justice Peter Lifu issued the order on Monday while delivering judgment in a suit filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators.
The court held that the affected political parties failed to meet constitutional and electoral requirements, particularly the threshold relating to electoral performance in previous elections.
Before delivering judgment, Justice Lifu dismissed the preliminary objections filed by the defendants and subsequently directed INEC to deregister the parties. He further ordered the electoral commission not to permit them to participate in future elections, including the 2027 general elections.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026, was instituted by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators, which named INEC as the first defendant and also joined the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) as a party to the case.
The plaintiff argued that the affected political parties failed to satisfy constitutional requirements regarding electoral spread and performance. It maintained that political parties must secure at least 25 per cent of votes in prescribed elections to remain eligible under the law.
According to the forum, none of the parties effectively challenged the substance of its claims, prompting the court to grant the reliefs sought and order their deregistration.
