AGF joins ex-lawmakers in asking court to deregister ADC, Accord, three other parties
The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) has taken a dramatic legal turn by joining the National Forum of Former Legislators in their bid to compel the deregistration of five political parties. Despite being a defendant in the suit, the AGF has pitched tents with the plaintiffs at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The move targets the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party, Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) for alleged failure to meet constitutional benchmarks.
The Minister of Justice argued that the continued existence of these parties undermines Nigeria’s electoral integrity and violates the 1999 Constitution. He contended that the right to associate as a political party is not absolute and must be exercised within legal limits. According to the AGF, the court must intervene to prevent INEC from acting in breach of its duty by retaining underperforming platforms on the official register.
At the heart of suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026 is Section 225A of the Constitution, which mandates the removal of parties that fail to meet specific performance thresholds. The plaintiffs argued that the affected parties failed to win at least 25% of the votes in any state during the 2023 presidential election or secure a single elective seat at any level of government. They maintained that this failure makes their continued recognition unlawful.
The AGF’s legal team, led by Prof. Joshua Olatoke, SAN, formally admitted the plaintiff’s case, emphasizing the Chief Law Officer’s duty to uphold the Constitution. The filing argued that allowing underperforming parties to remain leads to ballot congestion and increases the cost of election administration. The Minister stressed that his support for the suit aligns with his role as a defender of the state and an advocate for democratic accountability.
Beyond seeking the deregistration of the parties, the plaintiffs are asking for far-reaching injunctions to bar them from the 2027 general elections. They requested that the court restrain INEC from recognizing or dealing with these parties in any official capacity, including banning them from holding primaries, rallies, or campaigns. The suit insists that the word “shall” in the Constitution makes deregistration mandatory, leaving INEC with no discretion in the matter.
Igbokwe Raphael Nnanna, the National Coordinator for the former legislators, stated that allowing these parties to remain is a violation of the governing legal framework. The group, composed of former lawmakers who helped shape the country’s electoral laws, claims they have the requisite standing to enforce these constitutional provisions. The case is now set for a defining judicial determination that could significantly reshape the Nigerian political landscape before the next election cycle.
