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A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed May 5 for the hearing of a suit seeking to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and several other political parties over alleged constitutional breaches.
Justice Peter Lifu set the date after granting the plaintiff leave to amend the originating summons to include additional parties accused of failing to meet constitutional requirements for registration and continued participation in elections.
The suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/25, filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators (NFFL), is asking the court to also direct INEC to deregister the Accord Party (AP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and Action Alliance Party (AAP). INEC, the Attorney-General of the Federation and the affected parties are listed as defendants.
In a ruling on Monday, the judge directed parties yet to respond to the amended filings to do so without delay, noting that the matter is both time-sensitive and of significant public interest. He added that with party primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections approaching, the case requires prompt resolution.
The court ordered all parties to file necessary processes before May 1 and adjourned the matter to May 5 for hearing.
In the substantive suit, the plaintiffs are seeking declarations that INEC is obligated to enforce constitutional benchmarks for party registration and continued existence. They are also asking for orders compelling the commission to deregister parties that fail to meet those standards.
Additionally, the group is seeking injunctions restraining INEC from recognising or engaging with the affected parties unless they comply fully with constitutional and statutory provisions.
In a supporting affidavit deposed to by Igbokwe Nnanna, Chairman, Board of Trustees and National Coordinator of the NFFL, the group alleged that INEC has continued to recognise political parties that have failed to meet minimum performance thresholds, despite constitutional provisions guiding their existence.
It argued that the affected parties have not won any elective positions at any level of government and have also failed to secure the required spread of votes in elections, as stipulated by law.
The plaintiff further claimed that the parties did not secure the constitutionally required 25 per cent of votes in at least one state in presidential elections, nor any representation across the country’s 8,809 wards, 774 local government areas, 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The plaintiffs said allowing such parties to remain registered could distort the electoral process by overcrowding ballot papers, straining administrative resources and misleading voters.
They further contended that the continued recognition of non-performing parties undermines electoral integrity and weakens meaningful political competition.
The group urged the court to compel INEC to enforce compliance with constitutional provisions by deregistering parties that fall short of the required benchmarks, in order to strengthen democratic processes ahead of future elections.
