Abuja, Nigeria – June 16, 2026

Leaders of the opposition parties affected by a Federal High Court judgment ordering their deregistration have rejected the ruling and pledged to continue participating in future elections, describing the decision as unconstitutional and a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.

The judgment, delivered by Justice Peter Lifu, directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five political parties - the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord, Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP). The court held that the parties failed to satisfy constitutional requirements necessary for their continued registration.

The case was instituted by the National Forum of Former Legislators, which argued that the affected parties had failed to attain the electoral performance benchmarks prescribed under Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution. The group maintained that the parties neither secured at least 25 percent of votes in a state during presidential elections nor won elective offices at national, state, or local government levels.

In his ruling, Justice Lifu restrained INEC from recognizing the parties, accepting nominations from their candidates, or allowing them to participate in the 2027 general elections. He further directed the parties to cease presenting themselves as registered political parties.

The judgment, however, drew immediate criticism from opposition leaders who argued that it ignored an earlier order of the Court of Appeal directing the High Court to suspend proceedings pending the determination of an appeal.

Reacting to the decision, ADC National Chairman, David Mark, assured party members and supporters that the ADC would remain on the ballot in the 2027 elections. He described the judgment as a temporary setback and expressed confidence that it would be overturned on appeal.

Similarly, ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar condemned the ruling, describing it as an attack on constitutional democracy and alleging that it formed part of a broader attempt to weaken opposition parties ahead of the next general election. He urged party supporters to remain steadfast while pursuing legal remedies.

The ADC, through its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, accused the ruling government of attempting to use the judiciary to suppress political opposition. The party argued that only INEC possesses the constitutional authority to deregister political parties and announced plans to petition the National Judicial Council over the conduct of the trial judge.

In Osun State, Governor Ademola Adeleke, whose political platform, Accord, is among the affected parties, described the judgment as a violation of a subsisting Court of Appeal order. He called on residents to remain calm, expressing confidence that the appellate court would reverse the ruling and allow the party to participate in the forthcoming governorship election.

The decision was also condemned by Omoyele Sowore, presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), who described the deregistration of parties preparing for elections as undemocratic and contrary to the principles of a multiparty system.

Adding his voice, Peter Obi warned against weakening democratic institutions for political advantage. He stressed that confidence in the judiciary and the rule of law remains essential for national development, investment, and democratic stability.

The controversy has heightened political tensions ahead of the 2027 general elections, with legal challenges expected to determine whether the affected parties will remain eligible to contest future polls.