BREAKING: Court orders INEC to deregister ADC, Accord Party, others ahead of 2027 elections

A major political development unfolded on Monday as the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately deregister several political parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Accord Party, over alleged violations of constitutional and electoral requirements.

The landmark ruling was delivered by Justice Peter Odo Lifu in a suit filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators, a group comprising former lawmakers from across the country.

The court’s decision, which has far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections, directed INEC to remove the affected parties from the list of registered political parties eligible to participate in future elections.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026, named INEC as the principal defendant alongside several political parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Alliance (AA), All Progressives Party (APP), Accord Party, and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

Justice Lifu held that the parties failed to comply with constitutional and statutory requirements governing the continued registration and operation of political parties in Nigeria, thereby warranting their deregistration by the electoral commission.

Although the full details of the court’s reasoning were not immediately available, the judgment represents one of the most significant judicial interventions in Nigeria’s electoral process in recent years.

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The ruling is expected to have immediate political consequences for several prominent politicians currently affiliated with the affected parties.

Among those likely to be impacted is former Vice President and presidential candidate of the ADC, Atiku Abubakar, whose political future ahead of the 2027 presidential election may be affected if the judgment remains in force.

The decision also casts uncertainty over the political ambitions of Ademola Adeleke, who is expected to seek re-election in the August 15 governorship election under the platform of the Accord Party.

With the court ordering the deregistration of the party, legal and political questions are likely to arise regarding the status of candidates seeking elective offices under its banner.

Political analysts believe the judgment could trigger a fresh wave of political realignments, as affected politicians and party members may be compelled to seek alternative platforms if the ruling is upheld on appeal.

The verdict is also expected to generate intense legal debate over the powers of the courts and INEC concerning the registration and deregistration of political parties under Nigeria’s electoral framework.

As of the time of filing this report, neither INEC nor the affected political parties had issued official reactions to the judgment.

However, legal observers anticipate that appeals and applications seeking a stay of execution may be filed in the coming days, given the potentially significant impact of the ruling on preparations for upcoming elections.

The judgment has once again brought into focus the issue of compliance by political parties with constitutional provisions and electoral regulations, particularly as the country begins to position itself for the 2027 electoral cycle.