2027: Oppositions Outraged Over Court Ruling Axing 5 Political Parties

A Federal High Court ruling directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five political parties has triggered strong condemnation from opposition figures, who label the decision a severe blow to Nigeria’s multi-party democracy.

The affected political organizations are the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party, Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

Delivered by Justice Peter Lifu, the judgment followed a legal challenge initiated by the National Forum of Former Legislators. The plaintiffs argued that the five parties had consistently failed to meet the constitutional thresholds outlined in Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). These requirements mandate that a political party must secure at least 25 percent of the votes in at least one state during a presidential election, or win at least one legislative seat at either the federal, state, or local government level to maintain its legal registration.

Opposing political leaders quickly challenged the legitimacy of the ruling, pointing out significant procedural anomalies. Critics highlighted that the High Court proceeded with the judgment despite a subsisting stay of proceedings issued by the Court of Appeal on May 22, 2026, which was intended to freeze all lower court actions pending an appellate review.

Prominent political figures have warned that the ruling threatens democratic pluralism. Critics view the judicial maneuver as a targeted attempt to consolidate power and dismantle viable alternative political platforms ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In its defense, the leadership of the ADC pointed to counter-affidavits filed by INEC during the preliminary hearings. In those filings, the electoral commission had stated that the ADC met all necessary regulatory and performance benchmarks, maintaining that party deregistration should never be influenced by external political pressure.

Legal representatives for the affected political parties have confirmed plans to immediately appeal the judgment. Observers note that the impending appellate battle will serve as a critical test for judicial hierarchy, legal certainty, and the stability of the nation’s multi-party framework.