The Federal High Court, Abuja Division, has ordered the immediate deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) alongside four other political parties for failing to meet the mandatory constitutional requirements necessary to maintain their status as recognized political entities.
​The other affected parties included in the judicial order are Accord (A), Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP). ​Delivering the judgment, the court ruled that the political associations failed to satisfy the structural and electoral thresholds stipulated under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
​Under Nigerian electoral guidelines and constitutional provisions, registered political parties are required to maintain functional offices across a specified number of states, hold democratic conventions, and secure a minimum percentage of votes or win specific seats in general and local elections to retain their registration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). ​
The court found that the ADC, Accord, AA, APP, and ZLP fell short of these baseline requirements, rendering their continued existence as registered political parties legally untenable. ​This sweeping judgment is expected to significantly trim the number of active political parties on the ballot in upcoming elections, a move that analysts suggest could help streamline the nation’s electoral process and reduce logistical burdens on electoral body INEC. ​
Spokespersons for the affected parties have not yet issued official statements regarding whether they intend to appeal the verdict at the Court of Appeal. ​With this ruling, INEC is legally mandated to strike the names and symbols of the ADC, Accord, AA, APP, and ZLP from the official roster of recognized political parties in Nigeria, effective immediately.
