TDThe Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking the deregistration of five political parties.
The forum argued that their continued existence violates constitutional provisions and undermines Nigeria’s electoral integrity.
Observers, however, allege that the move is part of the machinations of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to foist a one-party system on the country.
They argue that the move is deliberately targeted at opposition parties that may upset his second-term ambition.
The Case
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026, was filed at the Abuja Judicial Division of the Federal High Court.
It lists the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators as the plaintiff.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is listed as the first defendant.
Meanwhile, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice is the second defendant.
The five political parties targeted for deregistration are:
- African Democratic Congress (ADC)
- Action Alliance (AA)
- Action Peoples Party (APP)
- Accord (A)
- Zenith Labour Party (ZLP)
Grounds for Deregistration
The group contended that INEC has failed to act in line with its constitutional duty by retaining parties that have not met the minimum requirements prescribed by law.
At the center of the case is Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), reinforced by the Electoral Act 2022 and INEC’s regulations.
These provisions require political parties to:
- Secure at least 25% of votes in a state during a presidential election, or
- Win at least one elective seat at the national, state, or local government level.
The plaintiffs argue that the affected parties have persistently failed to meet these benchmarks, thereby justifying their deregistration.
Constitutional Argument
The filing stresses that while Nigerians have the right to freely associate, including forming political parties, this right is not absolute.
It must be exercised within constitutional limits to safeguard electoral integrity and prevent the proliferation of non-performing parties.
The Attorney General insists that deregistering the parties is in the interest of justice and necessary to uphold the credibility of Nigeria’s democratic process.
The Federal High Court is expected to hear arguments in the coming weeks.
The ruling will determine whether INEC must deregister the five parties or retain them despite their alleged failure to meet constitutional thresholds.
Implications and Next Steps
If the court grants the reliefs sought, the deregistration of ADC, Accord, and the other parties could significantly reshape Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.
- Opposition Impact: ADC and Accord, though smaller than the major parties, have been active in coalition-building efforts.
Their removal could weaken opposition alliances.
- Electoral Integrity: Supporters of deregistration argue it would streamline Nigeria’s political system, reducing the number of inactive or underperforming parties.
- Democratic Concerns: Critics warn that deregistration could disenfranchise millions of Nigerians who identify with these parties.
It further raises questions about inclusivity and pluralism.
