A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties for failing to meet constitutional requirements for political parties in Nigeria.
Justice Peter Lifu delivered the judgment on Monday, June 15, 2026.
Court Orders Deregistration of Five Parties
The affected parties are:
- African Democratic Congress (ADC)
- Accord Party
- Action Alliance (AA)
- Action Peoples Party (APP)
- Zenith Labour Party (ZLP)
The court ruled that these parties failed to satisfy the provisions of Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution, which requires political parties to secure at least 25% of the votes cast in at least one-quarter of the states of the federation (including the Federal Capital Territory) in the last general elections or meet other stipulated conditions.
Justice Lifu ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately deregister the parties.
Background to the Suit
The suit was filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators. They had asked the court to compel INEC to deregister parties that did not meet the constitutional thresholds after the 2023 general elections.
The ruling comes barely hours after the ADC announced Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi as the running mate to its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, for the 2027 election.
Implications for Opposition and 2027
The decision has sent shockwaves through the opposition, especially the ADC, which has positioned itself as a major platform for the 2027 presidential race. The party had been gaining momentum with its coalition efforts and the recent selection of Amaechi as Atiku’s running mate.
Legal experts say the affected parties have the option to appeal the judgment. If the decision is upheld, the parties may lose their legal status to field candidates in future elections, effectively ending their participation as registered political parties.
INEC is expected to act on the court order in the coming days. The development adds another layer of uncertainty to the already fluid opposition landscape ahead of 2027.
Many political observers are watching closely to see how the ADC and other affected parties will respond to the ruling and whether it will affect ongoing coalition talks.
