Fresh political tensions emerged on Monday after a Federal High Court ordered the deregistration of five political parties, prompting strong opposition from party leaders and key political figures who vowed to challenge the ruling through the courts.

 

Among those leading the resistance was ADC National Chairman, Senator David Mark, who assured party members and supporters that the African Democratic Congress would remain eligible to participate in the 2027 general elections despite the court’s decision. He described the judgment as a temporary obstacle that would ultimately be overturned on appeal.

 

Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja had directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) from the register of political parties, citing their failure to satisfy constitutional requirements necessary for retaining registration.

 

Reacting to the judgment while receiving a delegation of ADC candidates in Abuja, Mark, through a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, maintained that the ruling would not stand.

 

He reassured party members, candidates and supporters that the ADC would be on the ballot in 2027, expressing confidence that the judicial process would reverse the decision and uphold the party’s constitutional rights.

 

The former Senate President further argued that the judgment raised serious concerns about due process, particularly because the Court of Appeal had previously granted a stay of proceedings and adjourned the matter until October 27, 2027.

 

According to Mark, the ruling represented a significant threat to democratic values and political participation in Nigeria. He insisted that the judgment failed to meet legal standards and would eventually be nullified, stressing the need to safeguard democracy and protect the rights of political parties as well as the choices available to voters.

 

He subsequently urged ADC supporters nationwide to remain calm and focused while the party pursued legal remedies and continued preparations for future elections.

 

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, also criticised the judgment, describing it as a misuse of judicial process and a violation of an existing Court of Appeal order.

 

In a statement released by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, the governor argued that the appellate court had already issued a stay of proceedings in the case, making the lower court’s decision contentious.

 

The statement referenced records from proceedings before Justice Lifu, noting that the Court of Appeal had clearly indicated in its May 22, 2026 pronouncement that the delivery of judgment remained part of the proceedings covered by the stay order.

 

Adeleke called on members and supporters of the Accord Party to remain peaceful, expressing confidence that the appellate court would eventually rule in the party’s favour.

 

He maintained that the party’s legal rights would be upheld and insisted that Accord would remain on the ballot for the upcoming election while its lawyers pursued all available legal options to challenge the ruling.

 

Also reacting to the development, activist and AAC presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, condemned the judgment, arguing that it contradicted the principles of a healthy multi-party democracy.

 

In a social media post, Sowore questioned the rationale behind deregistering parties that had already completed their primary elections and were actively preparing for general elections. He described such actions as unfair, unjustified and inconsistent with democratic norms.

 

The ruling has since reignited discussions about the future of Nigeria’s multi-party political system and the extent of INEC’s powers under Section 225 of the 1999 Constitution, which authorises the electoral commission to deregister parties that fail to secure elective positions at the federal, state or local government levels.

 

In delivering the judgment, Justice Lifu ruled that the affected parties no longer satisfied the constitutional conditions required for continued registration and consequently ordered INEC to remove them from its official register.

 

However, with the ADC, Accord Party and other affected stakeholders preparing appeals, the legal and political battle over the status of the parties appears set to continue, potentially shaping the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.