ABUJA — The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately deregister five political parties for failing to meet the minimum constitutional requirements to remain on the national ballot.

The affected political platforms are the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party (AP), Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

The landmark judgment, delivered by Justice Peter Lifu, effectively bars the five political parties from participating in future elections or engaging in any recognized political activities across the country.

The Constitutional Breach

The judicial directive followed a lawsuit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026, instituted by the National Forum of Former Legislators. The plaintiffs approached the court to determine if INEC is under a constitutional obligation to prune the nation`s political space by removing inactive parties.

Under Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act 2022, a political party must achieve at least one of the following to retain its registration:Secure at least 25 per cent of the total votes cast in at least one state during a presidential election.Win at least one elective seat at the local government, state assembly, or national assembly level.

The former lawmakers successfully argued that the five defendants persistently failed to hit these benchmarks during the 2023 general elections and subsequent by-elections, making their continued operation unlawful.

Sweeping Restraining Orders

Granting the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs, Justice Lifu ordered strict restrictions against the political groups to preserve the integrity of the electoral ecosystem.

The court granted an injunction restraining the five parties from organizing campaigns, rallies, or conducting primary elections. Furthermore, the court restrained INEC from recognizing, corresponding with, or accommodating the affected parties in any official capacity moving forward.

The plaintiffs had urged the court to compel INEC to act swiftly before preparations for the upcoming 2027 general elections advance any further.

High-Stakes Political Fallout

The court`s decision has sent shockwaves through the political landscape, as it directly threatens the immediate future of several top-tier politicians.

The judgment heavily impacts the 2027 political calculations, particularly affecting prominent candidates associated with the platforms. Notably, the ruling throws a wrench into the political machinery of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and his political allies, whose 2027 ambitions are closely tied to alliances involving the affected parties.

Legal experts predict the affected parties will file an immediate appeal to stay the execution of the judgment. As of press time, INEC has not issued an official statement regarding the timeline for enforcing the court`s deregistration order.