Opposition political parties and prominent political figures on Monday criticized a Federal High Court ruling directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five political parties, describing the judgment as a threat to Nigeria’s multiparty democracy.
The ruling, delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, ordered INEC to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party, Action Peoples Party, Action Alliance and Zenith Labour Party.
The case was filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators, which argued that the affected parties failed to meet constitutional electoral performance requirements outlined in Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution and relevant provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.
The plaintiffs contended that the parties failed to secure the minimum electoral thresholds required to retain their registration, including winning at least 25% of votes in a state during a presidential election or securing elective positions at the federal, state or local government levels.
The ruling immediately triggered strong reactions from opposition leaders, who questioned both the legal basis of the judgment and its timing ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the ADC’s presidential candidate, described the judgment as a serious threat to democratic governance and political pluralism.
In a statement issued by his spokesman, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku argued that the judgment was delivered despite a subsisting Court of Appeal order staying proceedings in the case pending determination of an appeal.
He said the ruling raised concerns about adherence to the rule of law and warned against efforts to weaken opposition parties ahead of future elections.
“This latest judgment therefore does not merely contradict a subsisting appellate order; it strikes at the very foundation of legal certainty and constitutional governance,” the statement said.
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke also criticized the ruling, arguing that it violated an earlier Court of Appeal order staying proceedings.
Adeleke urged supporters of the Accord Party to remain calm, expressing confidence that the appellate court would address the matter and that the party would remain eligible to participate in the upcoming Osun governorship election.
The ADC formally rejected the judgment, describing it as an attempt to undermine democratic competition and restrict political choices available to Nigerians.
In a statement signed by National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said INEC had previously informed the court that no constitutional basis existed for the deregistration of the ADC.
The party further alleged that the judgment ignored a valid Court of Appeal order and warned that any attempt to exclude opposition parties from future elections could destabilize the democratic process.
ADC National Chairman David Mark described the ruling as “an arrow fired at the heart of Nigeria’s democracy” and expressed confidence that it would be overturned on appeal.
“The judgment cannot stand. It will be set aside because it does not pass the test of law and due process,” Mark said.
The Kwara State chapter of the ADC also condemned the decision, arguing that it amounted to an attack on constitutional freedoms and Nigeria’s multiparty political system.
Other opposition figures echoed similar concerns. Yunusa Tanko, a former spokesman for Peter Obi’s presidential campaign council and National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, described the ruling as disturbing and potentially destabilizing.
The Social Democratic Party’s National Publicity Secretary, Rufus Aiyenigba, characterized the development as a “recipe for national crisis,” while the Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party warned that the judgment could undermine public confidence in democratic institutions.
Some political observers, however, urged affected parties to pursue legal remedies through the appellate courts rather than escalate political tensions.
The controversy is expected to face further judicial scrutiny in the coming days, particularly regarding the effect of the Court of Appeal’s stay of proceedings and the broader implications of the ruling for Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.
