Court Orders INEC to Deregister Five Political Parties for Failing Constitutional Threshold

The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a significant ruling that will reshape the political landscape, ordering the immediate deregistration of five political parties. The court found that these parties failed to meet the fundamental constitutional requirements necessary to maintain their status. The judgement was delivered by Justice Peter Lifu, who directed the Independent National Electoral Commission to carry out the deregistration process. This decision stems from the parties' inability to secure a minimum of twenty-five percent of the votes cast in the last general elections, a key threshold established by law.

The affected political organisations are the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the Accord Party (AP), the Action Alliance (AA), the Action Peoples Party(APP), and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP). Justice Lifu's ruling came after he dismissed a series of preliminary objections raised by the defendants in the case. The court further instructed the electoral commission to bar these parties from participating in any subsequent elections, including the upcoming 2027 general polls. This enforcement underscores the court's stance on upholding constitutional provisions regarding electoral performance and relevance.

The legal action was initiated by a group known as the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators. This body filed the suit against the five political parties, also joining the Attorney-General of the Federation as a party to the case. In the lawsuit, the Independent National Electoral Commission was listed as the first defendant. The forum's core argument was that the political parties in question had not fulfilled the constitutional mandates related to their electoral spread and overall performance in elections.

The plaintiff's case rested on the legal requirement that for a political party to remain registered and legally recognised, it must demonstrate a minimum level of national acceptance by securing at least a quarter of the votes in prescribed elections. The forum contended that none of the five parties met this standard, thereby forfeiting their right to continue operating as registered political entities. Throughout the proceedings, the plaintiff maintained that the defendants failed to present any substantive arguments to counter these claims, leaving the court's path clear to rule in favour of deregistration.

This judicial decision highlights a continuing effort to streamline Nigeria's political system by ensuring that only parties with demonstrable national appeal and electoral viability retain official recognition. It reinforces the authority of the Independent National Electoral Commission to regulate the party system based on performance criteria, moving beyond mere registration. The ruling is expected to trigger discussions about political consolidation, the challenges faced by smaller parties, and the broader implications for multi-party democracy in the country. It also sets a precedent for future assessments of political parties' constitutional compliance, potentially leading to a more focused and competitive electoral environment in the years to come. The enforcement of such thresholds aims to prevent the proliferation of parties that exist only in name without significant voter support or geographical reach, thereby strengthening the democratic process through more meaningful political competition.