By Desire Emmanuel
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday, June 15, 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.
Other political parties ordered to be deregistered are Accord Party (AP), Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
Justice Peter Lifu, in his judgment, 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.
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.
It will be recalled that 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 first 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.
There are however indications that the affected parties will appeal the judgment.
