The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the de-registration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four others over their failure to meet the constitutional requirements for political parties in the country.
The presiding judge, Justice Peter Lifu, in a judgement, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the affected parties, having failed to secure 25 per cent of the votes in the last general elections in compliance with the provisions of the law.
The affected five political parties are ADC, Accord Party (AP), Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
Justice Lifu, who earlier dismissed all the multiple preliminary objections filed by the defendants, ordered INEC not to allow the parties to participate in subsequent elections, including the 2027 general polls, having failed to meet the constitutional threshold.
A group under the auspices of the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators filed the suit against the five political parties.
The plaintiff, who 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 per cent of votes in prescribed elections to remain relevant under the law.
It therefore urged the court to order the deregistration of the parties, insisting that none of the defendants had effectively countered the arguments.
With this verdict, the affected political parties have the right of appeal against the judgement.