Monday June 15, 2026
www.thenewsdesk.ng
By Our REPORTER
Fresh political controversy erupted on Monday, June 15, 2026, after a Federal High Court ordered the deregistration of five political parties, prompting strong reactions from party leaders and political stakeholders who described the judgment as unconstitutional and vowed to challenge it through the appellate courts.
The ADC, Accord Party and other political stakeholders have rejected a Federal High Court judgment directing the deregistration of five political parties, insisting the ruling violates due process and will be overturned on appeal ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark, assured party members and supporters that the ADC would remain on the ballot for the 2027 general elections, describing the ruling as a temporary legal setback that would ultimately be overturned.
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja had directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party, and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), ruling that the parties no longer met the constitutional requirements for continued registration.
Responding after receiving a delegation of ADC candidates in Abuja, Mark, through a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, expressed confidence in the judicial process.
”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 stated.
The former Senate President argued that the judgment raises serious concerns about due process and democratic participation, noting that the Court of Appeal had previously granted a stay of proceedings and adjourned the matter to October 27, 2027.
According to him, the decision represents “an arrow fired at the heart of Nigeria’s democracy” and cannot withstand legal scrutiny.
”Our democracy must be protected from actions that seek to undermine the constitutional rights of political parties and the choices available to Nigerians,” Mark added, while urging party members across the country to remain calm and continue preparations for future elections.
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke also faulted the judgment, describing it as an abuse of judicial process and a violation of an existing order of the Court of Appeal.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, the governor maintained that the appellate court had already granted a stay of proceedings, making the Federal High Court’s decision questionable.
The statement noted that records presented before Justice Peter Lifu included proceedings of the Court of Appeal dated May 22, 2026, which held that the delivery of judgment forms part of the court’s proceedings and is therefore covered by the stay order.
Governor Adeleke urged supporters of the Accord Party to remain peaceful and confident that the appellate court would resolve the dispute in the party’s favour.
”Our rights will be affirmed and our party, Accord, will be on the ballot on August 15. We will not only participate but also secure victory. Our legal team is taking all necessary steps to correct this judicial error,” the governor said.
Also reacting, African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate and activist, Omoyele Sowore, condemned the judgment, describing the deregistration of parties preparing for elections as inconsistent with democratic principles.
In a post on social media, Sowore argued that political parties which have concluded their primaries and are actively participating in the electoral process should not be removed through judicial pronouncements.
”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 ruling has reignited debate over Nigeria’s multi-party democracy and the scope of INEC’s powers under Section 225 of the 1999 Constitution, which empowers the electoral body to deregister political parties that fail to win elective positions at the federal, state, or local government levels.
In his judgment, Justice Lifu held that the affected parties no longer satisfied the constitutional threshold for continued registration and consequently directed INEC to remove them from the official register of political parties.
However, with the ADC, Accord Party and other affected stakeholders already heading to the Court of Appeal, the legal battle over the status of the parties appears far from over, setting the stage for a significant constitutional and political contest ahead of the 2027 general elections.
ADC, Accord Reject Deregistration Ruling, Vow Legal Battle Ahead of 2027 Polls
