A Federal High Court in Abuja has delivered a major blow to the political ambitions of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke.
The court has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five political parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Accord Party, effectively nullifying the election tickets recently secured by both prominent politicians.
The decision has immediately upended the political landscape, disrupting major opposition strategies ahead of the 2026 Osun State governorship election and the 2027 general elections.
The Court’s Ruling
Presiding Judge, Justice Peter Lifu, delivered the judgement in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026, which was filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators. The group successfully argued that the affected parties failed to meet the strict performance thresholds mandated by Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022, and INEC regulations.
The five political parties ordered to be deregistered are:
- African Democratic Congress (ADC)
- Accord Party
- Action Peoples Party (APP)
- Action Alliance (AA)
- Zenith Labour Party (ZLP)
Under Nigerian law, registered political parties must meet specific performance benchmarks to retain their official status. This includes securing at least 25 percent of the votes cast in at least one state during a presidential election, or winning at least one elective seat at the local, state, or federal level.
The plaintiffs successfully proved that these five parties performed poorly during the 2023 general elections and subsequent by-elections, failing to win critical seats.
High-Profile Casualties
The court’s order to bar these parties from participating in future political activities, rallies, or primary elections has directly derailed the plans of several top-tier politicians:
Atiku Abubakar: The former Vice President had recently secured the presidential ticket under the ADC as part of a highly anticipated broader opposition coalition strategy designed to challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027. (In fact, the ADC had just announced former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate).
Ademola Adeleke: The Osun State Governor had picked up the governorship ticket for the Accord Party amid fluid political realignments in his state, looking toward the upcoming 2026 gubernatorial election.
What Happens Next?
With Justice Lifu granting the reliefs sought by the former lawmakers, INEC is legally bound to strip these five parties of their recognition, and the parties are restrained from conducting further campaigns or field candidates.
Unless the affected parties successfully appeal the ruling in a higher court or obtain a stay of execution, the political calculations for Atiku, Adeleke, and their supporters have been thrown into complete uncertainty, forcing them to completely re-evaluate their platforms ahead of the next polls.
