The African Democratic Congress has said it will challenge the ruling, accusing the judge of being a “threat to democracy”
A Nigerian court has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister a major opposition party and four others ahead of the West African nation’s 2027 general election.
Abuja Federal High Court Justice Peter Lifu issued the ruling on Monday, in a suit filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators. The court said the affected parties – the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party, Action Peoples Party, Action Alliance, and Zenith Labour Party – failed to meet constitutional requirements for continued registration, including electoral performance thresholds.
The judge ordered INEC to stop recognizing them, accepting their candidates, or allowing them to take part in future elections.
The ruling could affect former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who won the ADC presidential ticket in May, and Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, who is seeking reelection on the Accord Party platform in the state’s August 15 governorship election.
In a statement on Monday, the ADC said it will challenge the ruling, accusing Justice Lifu of being a “threat to democracy” for allegedly disregarding a Court of Appeal order, which directed a stay of proceedings in the case.
The ADC said that, contrary to the plaintiffs’ allegations, the INEC told the court in a counter-affidavit filed in May that the party “had not violated any registration requirements, had not failed any constitutional electoral-performance threshold, and that no legally recognized basis existed for its de-registration.”
This is not the first major party deregistration dispute in Nigeria. In 2020, the INEC deregistered 74 parties after the 2019 general election, saying they failed to meet constitutional performance requirements. The Supreme Court later upheld the INEC’s power to deregister parties that fail to meet legal thresholds.
The court decision comes ahead of a tense election cycle in Africa’s most populous country, where national elections have repeatedly been marred by violence, legal disputes, and allegations of irregularities, including the 2023 election.
Incumbent President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress is expected to be among the main contenders in the January 16, 2027 election, along with Peter Obi, the former Anambra State governor and candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress.
In April, Nigeria’s broadcast regulator tightened rules for radio and TV stations ahead of the 2027 election, warning presenters against airing personal opinions, bullying guests, and broadcasting divisive political material.
