Court Adjourns Suit Seeking Deregistration of Five Political Parties to March 24

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has adjourned until March 24 for hearing in a suit seeking the deregistration of five political parties over alleged constitutional breaches.

The case was instituted by the National Forum of Former Legislators against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Attorney-General of the Federation, and the affected political parties.

Initially filed against the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the suit was later amended to include Action Alliance, Action Peoples Party, Accord Party, and Zenith Labour Party.

At Tuesday’s proceedings, counsel to the plaintiffs, Yakubu Ruba (SAN), informed the court of a pending application seeking to formally join the additional parties to the suit.

However, the ADC challenged the jurisdiction of the court, arguing that it has satisfied the constitutional requirements necessary to remain a registered political party.

Presiding judge, Peter Lifu, adjourned the matter to March 24 to allow the court to hear and determine all pending applications. The court also directed Action Alliance to resolve its internal leadership dispute after two separate lawyers appeared, each claiming to represent the party.

The plaintiffs are urging the court to compel INEC to deregister political parties that fail to meet the minimum electoral performance thresholds stipulated by law. They argue that allowing such parties to remain on the ballot could undermine electoral integrity ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Counsel in the matter include Yakubu Ruba (SAN) for the plaintiffs, Musibau Adetunbi (SAN) representing Accord Party, and Rilwan Okpanachi, a member of the ADC legal team.