The Federal High Court in Abuja has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five political parties for failing to meet constitutional performance benchmarks.

In a judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu, the court ordered the electoral umpire to remove the following parties from its official registry:

• African Democratic Congress (ADC)

• Action Peoples Party (APP)

• Action Alliance (AA)

• Accord Party (AP)

• Zenith Labour Party (ZLP)

The Legal Basis for Deregistration

The ruling followed a lawsuit (FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026) filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators. The plaintiffs sought a judicial determination on whether INEC is constitutionally required to decommission political parties that fail to achieve the electoral thresholds mandated by Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), alongside provisions in the Electoral Act 2022 and standard INEC regulations.

According to the constitutional framework, to maintain valid registration, a political party must secure at least 25 percent of the votes in at least one state during a presidential election, or win at least one elective seat at the local, state, or federal level.

Failure to Meet Benchmarks

The plaintiffs argued that the five affected parties performed poorly during the 2023 general elections and subsequent by-elections, failing to secure legislative or executive representation across key tiers of government. The former lawmakers maintained that allowing underperforming parties to retain their official status undermines the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system and causes administrative strain.

Scope of the Court's Injunctions

In addition to ordering the deregistration, the court granted several consequential reliefs put forward by the plaintiffs:

• Restriction of Political Activities: The five political parties are barred from participating in future general elections, conducting primary elections, and organizing public rallies or campaigns.

• Administrative Embargo: INEC is restrained from recognizing, collaborating with, or engaging the affected parties in any official capacity.

This judicial directive comes as preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections. The enforcement of this judgment is expected to reshape the political landscape, potentially impacting the electoral plans of high-profile politicians, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who may have been considering alliances or candidacies under the affected platforms.