Fresh political tension emerged on Monday following a Federal High Court judgment directing the deregistration of five political parties, with leaders of the affected parties and prominent political figures rejecting the decision and promising to challenge it through the courts.
At the centre of the dispute is the party deregistration ruling, which ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove five registered political parties from its register, a development that has triggered strong reactions from party leaders who insist the judgment will not stand.
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) no longer met constitutional requirements for continued registration.
The judgment was based on provisions of the Constitution that empower INEC to deregister political parties that fail to satisfy certain electoral performance requirements. However, the decision has immediately sparked legal and political resistance from affected stakeholders.
Leading the opposition to the ruling, ADC National Chairman and former Senate President, Senator David Mark, dismissed the judgment as a temporary setback and expressed confidence that the decision would be overturned on appeal. Speaking through a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, after receiving a delegation of ADC candidates in Abuja, Mark assured party members that the ADC would participate in future elections.
“The ADC will be on the ballot in 2027. I assure all our candidates, members and supporters that this temporary setback will be overcome through the judicial process. We remain resolute and confident in the rule of law,” he said.
Mark argued that the party deregistration ruling raised serious questions regarding due process and democratic participation. According to him, the Court of Appeal had earlier granted a stay of proceedings and adjourned the matter to October 27, 2027, making the Federal High Court decision controversial.
“The judgment cannot stand. It will be set aside because it does not pass the test of law and due process. Our democracy must be protected from actions that seek to undermine the constitutional rights of political parties and the choices available to Nigerians,” Mark stated.
He described the judgment as “an arrow fired at the heart of Nigeria’s democracy” and urged party supporters nationwide to remain calm while legal remedies are pursued.
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, also faulted the court decision, particularly as it affects the Accord Party.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke argued that the ruling amounted to an abuse of judicial process because the Court of Appeal had already issued a stay of proceedings. The statement referenced proceedings before the appellate court on May 22, 2026, which allegedly established that the delivery of judgment remained part of the proceedings covered by the stay order.
“It is on record before Justice Peter Lifu that in the record of proceedings of the Court of Appeal of May 22, 2026, which was placed before the court as Exhibit MAC 2, the Court of Appeal specifically pronounced that the delivery of judgment is still part of the proceedings of the court,” the statement said. Adeleke expressed confidence that the appellate court would ultimately rule in favour of the Accord Party.
“Our rights will be affirmed and our party, the Accord, will be on the ballot on August 15. We will not only be on the ballot, we will win overwhelmingly. Our lawyers are taking all the necessary steps to right the wrong,” he said.
African Action Congress presidential candidate and activist, Omoyele Sowore, also criticised the judgment, describing it as inconsistent with democratic principles. Reacting through a social media post, Sowore argued that political parties which had already concluded their primaries and were preparing for elections should not be removed from the political process through judicial action.
“I totally condemn the deregistration of political parties that have already concluded their primaries and are preparing for general elections. Such an action is undemocratic and unjustifiable in a multi-party democracy,” he wrote.
The party deregistration ruling has reignited debate about the future of Nigeria’s multi-party political system and the extent of INEC’s constitutional powers.
Under Section 225 of the 1999 Constitution, INEC has authority to deregister political parties that fail to secure elective positions at federal, state or local government levels. Supporters of the ruling argue that the provision promotes accountability and discourages inactive political parties, while critics contend that it may limit political participation and reduce electoral choices available to voters.
With the ADC, Accord Party and other affected stakeholders already preparing appeals, the dispute is expected to shift to higher courts in the coming weeks.
Political observers believe the outcome of the appeals could have significant implications for party participation and electoral competition ahead of the 2027 general elections. For now, party leaders remain defiant, insisting that the party deregistration ruling will eventually be overturned and that their parties will remain active participants in Nigeria’s evolving democratic process.
