Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party, and three other political parties. The ruling was delivered in a suit brought by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators. This action directly contradicts a May 22 order by a three-member Court of Appeal panel, led by Justice Mohammed Danjuma, which had stayed further proceedings in the matter pending the determination of an appeal filed by Accord Party. That appeal, marked CA/ABJ/CV/569/2026, lists the forum of former lawmakers, INEC, the Attorney-General of the Federation, ADC, Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) as respondents. The Court of Appeal's order, signed by Deputy Chief Registrar Josephine Ekperobe, explicitly halted further action in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2025.
ADC has rejected the Federal High Court's judgement, calling it a threat to democracy and political stability. The party's National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, warned of dire consequences if any attempt is made to remove ADC from the ballot. He accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of using the judiciary to subvert democracy and ensure President Bola Tinubu remains in power. ADC National Chairman Senator David Mark, however, urged party members not to lose hope, stating that the party would appear on the ballot in the 2027 elections. Atiku Abubakar, through his media aide Paul Ibe, condemned the judgement as "judicial rascality" and a desperate move to entrench a one-party state. Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke called the ruling an abuse of court process and a violation of the Appeal Court's order. Peter Obi warned against the politicisation of state institutions, while Omoyele Sowore dismissed the judgement as undemocratic. Adewole Adebayo demanded full independence for INEC, saying such judicial actions hinder Nigeria's democratic progress.
Justice Lifu issued a ruling that directly contravenes a subsisting Court of Appeal order, creating legal confusion over the status of five political parties. Senator David Mark and Atiku Abubakar have both declared their intent to contest the 2027 election under ADC's banner, despite the deregistration order. If the party is excluded from the ballot, their candidacies could be invalidated. The judiciary's conflicting pronouncements now place the credibility of the 2027 election process in doubt.
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