The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the deregistration of five political parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC), for failing to meet constitutional requirements governing the continued existence of political parties in Nigeria.

Delivering judgment on Monday, Justice Peter Lifu directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the affected parties after finding that they failed to secure the minimum electoral performance threshold required under the law.

The parties affected by the ruling are the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord (A), Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

Justice Lifu also ordered INEC to bar the parties from participating in future elections, including the 2027 general elections, on the grounds that they failed to satisfy the constitutional criteria for political party registration and retention.

The court dismissed all preliminary objections raised by the defendants before proceeding to deliver judgment in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026.

The case was instituted by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators, which challenged the continued recognition of the five parties by INEC. The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) was joined as a party to the suit, while INEC was listed as the first defendant.

The plaintiff argued that the affected political parties failed to meet constitutional requirements relating to electoral spread and performance. It maintained that political parties are required to secure at least 25 per cent of votes in prescribed elections to retain their legal status under the law.

According to the forum, none of the parties effectively rebutted the claims presented before the court, warranting their deregistration.

The judgment is expected to have significant implications for Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the next electoral cycle.