Court Asks INEC To Derecognize ADC, Accord Party, AA, 2 Others
The Federal High Court, Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to derecognize the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP), and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
Team@orientactualmags.com learned that Justice Peter Lifu delivered the ruling on the suit filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators.
In the suit that had FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026 as its docket number , the NFFL had prayed the court to determine whether INEC has the constitutional obligation to remove political parties that fail to meet the electoral performance thresholds set out in Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), as reinforced by the Electoral Act 2022 and the electoral body’s regulations.
The former legislators emphasized that the requirements include winning at least 25 per cent of votes in a state during a presidential election or securing at least one elective seat at the national, state, or local government level.
They told the court that the ADC and the four other parties performed poorly in both the 2023 general election and the subsequent by-elections conducted by INEC, thereby failing to win seats across key tiers of government.
The litigants insisted that the continued existence and recognition of ADC and four others as political parties is unlawful and undermines the integrity of the country’s electoral system.
Among other reliefs, the plaintiff urged the court to declare that INEC is duty-bound to derecognize the parties in question.
Beyond declaratory reliefs, the plaintiff had also prayed the court to restrain the five affected parties from participating in the upcoming general election or engaging in political activities such as campaigns, rallies, and primaries.
It had also sought an injunction restraining INEC from recognizing or dealing with the parties in any official capacity unless and until they strictly comply with constitutional provisions-Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079, 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com. Thank you
