Olufunke Aladejare
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord and three other political parties over alleged failure to meet constitutional requirements for continued registration.
The judge, Peter Lifu, made the order in a judgement on Monday, noting that the affected parties breached Section 225 of the Nigerian constitution.
The section gives INEC the power to deregister political parties that have failed to win any elective position in the previous round of elections at the federal, state and local government levels.
The judgement will lead to a deluge of disqualifications of candidates running for elective offices in the 2027 general elections and the upcoming off-cycle governorship elections slated for June nas August in Ekiti and Osun states.
The suit was filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators against INEC, the Attorney-General of the Federation and the affected opposition parties.
Other parties listed in the suit and affected by the court’s deregistration order are Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
… details soon
