Abuja Court Sets May 5 Hearing on Deregistering 5 Parties

A Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled a hearing for May 5 on a suit seeking to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission to deregister five political parties for failing to meet constitutional performance thresholds in recent elections. The case, filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators, names INEC and Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi as primary defendants alongside the African Democratic Congress, Action Alliance, Action Peoples Party, Accord Party, and Zenith Labour Party.

Justice Peter Lifu set the date after granting the plaintiffs leave to amend their originating summons, which now targets the five parties. He directed all respondents to file responses by May 1, citing the urgency of the matter ahead of party primaries for the 2027 general elections.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/263/2026, argues that INEC has a mandatory duty under Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and the Electoral Act 2022 to remove parties that do not satisfy specific benchmarks. These include securing at least 25 percent of votes in one state during a presidential election or winning at least one seat at the federal, state, or local...