Court directs INEC to delist five political parties for failing to meet constitutional vote threshold and bars them from participating in future elections, including 2027 polls
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party, Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) over their alleged failure to meet constitutional requirements guiding the operation of political parties in Nigeria.
Delivering judgment in Abuja, Justice Peter Lifu held that the affected parties did not satisfy the required electoral performance threshold, including the stipulated benchmark of securing at least 25 per cent of votes in prescribed elections. The court further directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately delist the parties in compliance with the provisions of the law.
Justice Lifu also restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from allowing the affected political parties to participate in subsequent elections, including the 2027 general elections, on the grounds that they failed to meet the constitutional standard for continued recognition.
The Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators had filed the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026 at the Federal High Court in Abuja, with the Attorney-General of the Federation joined as a respondent. INEC was listed as the first defendant in the matter.
The plaintiffs argued that the five political parties failed to meet legal requirements relating to electoral spread and performance, insisting that none of the parties effectively countered the claims before the court.
In his ruling, Justice Lifu dismissed all preliminary objections raised by the defendants and upheld the position that compliance with electoral thresholds is necessary for political relevance under the law.
