The Federal High Court in Abuja will on February 24, 2026, hear a landmark suit that could reshape Nigeria’s political landscape, as former legislators challenge the continued registration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other parties over alleged constitutional violations.
Filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators, the case questions whether the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has the constitutional duty to deregister political parties that fail to perform in elections. The other parties named in the suit are the Accord Party, Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), and Action Alliance (AAP), alongside the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Testing the strength of Nigeria’s political rules
The plaintiffs argue that some parties have never won a single elective seat — from councillorship to the National Assembly — nor achieved the constitutionally required 25 per cent of votes in any state in presidential elections. By allowing such parties to continue operating, the suit claims, INEC is ignoring constitutional safeguards designed to maintain credible competition and political accountability.
Counsel to the plaintiffs, Yakubu Abdullahi Ruba (SAN), framed the case as a question of legal clarity:
“We are seeking the court’s guidance on whether INEC must enforce the constitutional thresholds or if such rules are optional. The future of credible elections may depend on this interpretation.”
What’s at stake
The plaintiffs are seeking:
A declaration that INEC must enforce minimum electoral performance thresholds;
Orders compelling the commission to deregister non-compliant parties;
Injunctions preventing these parties from holding primaries, congresses, or participating in the 2027 elections until they meet the legal requirements.
The case raises broader questions about Nigeria’s multi-party democracy: Should political parties that consistently fail to win support continue to operate, or do they dilute the electoral process, waste public resources, and confuse voters?
Hon. Igbokwe Raphael Nnanna, the lead plaintiff, warned that failing to act could allow “non-performing parties to clutter ballots, strain electoral administration, and undermine voter confidence” ahead of the next general elections.
The February 24 hearing could set a precedent, clarifying the limits of INEC’s regulatory powers and potentially forcing a recalibration of Nigeria’s party system — where survival is increasingly tied to electoral relevance.