Lagos: Chairmen of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party, and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) in Lagos State have faulted a Federal High Court judgment ordering the deregistration of their parties.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday ordered the deregistration of ADC, Accord, Action Alliance, Action Peoples Party, and ZLP.
The judgment also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to allow the affected parties to participate in subsequent elections, including the 2027 general elections. Reacting to the judgment, the party chairmen described the decision as political and unacceptable.
Mr. George Ashiru, Lagos State Chairman of ADC, expressed that the ruling was political and an affront to democracy. He argued that it appeared the courts intended to decide democracy for Nigeria, rather than allowing the votes of the people to speak. Ashiru was confident that their party leadership would appeal and overcome the decision, asserting that ADC would contest in the 2027 elections.
According to Ashiru, the judgment raises many questions demanding answers. He emphasized that any democracy without opposition parties could not be genuine. He noted that a party with over 3.5 million members being deemed unqualified to exist was questionable and warned that the judgment could trigger protests if allowed to stand.
Mr. Dele Oladeji, State Chairman of Accord Party, described the judgment as a miscarriage of justice. He pointed out that Accord had elected and currently serving public officers in Jigawa State, labeling the court’s decision as a travesty of justice, an aberration in democracy, and a stain on the judiciary.
Speaking on behalf of ZLP, Mr. Adenipebi Mode-Adekunle, a party chieftain, dismissed the ruling as politically motivated, asserting that the judgment was a joke and that they would contest the forthcoming elections. Mode-Adekunle was confident that the judgment would be overturned.
NAN reports that a group, the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators, had filed the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026 against the five political parties. The plaintiff, which also joined the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) in the suit, named INEC as the 1st defendant. The forum argued that the affected political parties failed to meet constitutional requirements relating to electoral spread and performance. It contended that political parties were required to secure at least 25 percent of votes in prescribed elections to remain relevant under the law. The group urged the court to order the deregistration of the parties, insisting that none of the defendants had effectively countered the arguments.