By Our Reporter 

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to deregister the African Democratic Congress, ADC, and four other political parties for failing to meet constitutional requirements.

Justice Peter Lifu, in his judgement, directed INEC to deregister the affected parties after they failed to secure at least 25 per cent of votes in the last general elections, as required by law.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that the five parties affected are the ADC, Accord, A, Action Alliance, AA, Action Peoples Party, APP, and Zenith Labour Party, ZLP.

Justice Lifu earlier dismissed multiple preliminary objections filed by the defendants and ordered INEC not to allow the parties to participate in subsequent elections, including the 2027 general polls, for failing to meet the constitutional threshold.

NAN reports that the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators filed the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026, against the five political parties. The forum also joined the Attorney-General of the Federation as a party, with INEC named 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 are required to secure at least 25 per cent of votes in prescribed elections to remain relevant under the law.

The plaintiff urged the court to order the deregistration of the parties, insisting that none of the defendants had effectively countered the arguments.