ABUJA — A federal court in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, has ordered the electoral commission to deregister five political parties for failing to win enough votes in the last general elections.
Justice Peter Lifu ruled on Monday that the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord (A), Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) did not meet the constitutional requirements to remain recognized political entities.
The judge ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to strip the parties of their registration and bar them from participating in future polls, including the 2027 general elections.
Under Nigerian law, political parties must secure a minimum threshold of 25 per cent of the votes cast in at least one election during a general election cycle to retain their registration.
The legal challenge was brought forward by the National Forum of Former Legislators, an organisation of former lawmakers, who argued that the affected parties failed to achieve the necessary electoral spread and performance.
The court dismissed preliminary objections raised by the defendants before delivering its judgement. At least one of the affected parties, the ADC, has reportedly rejected the ruling.
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