Federal High Court Sets March Deadline for Decisive Ruling on African Democratic Congress Deregistration Lawsuit

Federal High Court sets March 24 date for key rulings in the legal battle to deregister the ADC and other political parties over constitutional compliance.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 18, 2026, 5:27 PM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Independent

Judicial Review of Political Party Viability Enters Critical Phase

The legal challenge regarding the eligibility of several Nigerian political parties to maintain their registered status is approaching a definitive crossroads. On March 24, 2026, the Federal High Court in Abuja is expected to deliver rulings on pivotal applications and preliminary objections that will dictate the future of the African Democratic Congress and other targeted entities. This suit, initiated by the National Forum of Former Legislators, centers on the interpretation of Section 225A of the Fourth Alteration Act, which provides the Independent National Electoral Commission with the authority to dissolve parties based on specific electoral and administrative failures.

Constitutional Benchmarks and the Question of Selective Enforcement

At the core of the litigation is the allegation that INEC has been inconsistent in its application of the 2017 constitutional amendment. Under the law, political parties must secure at least one legislative seat or a minimum percentage of the total vote in general elections to avoid deregistration. The plaintiffs argue that while several smaller parties were dissolved following the 2019 cycle, organizations such as the ADC and the Action Alliance have been permitted to remain active despite allegedly failing to meet these same thresholds. This perceived disparity has prompted calls for a clear judicial pronouncement to ensure that the rule of law is applied without bias.

Procedural Wrangling Dominates Recent Court Sessions

Recent proceedings overseen by Justice Peter Lifu have focused heavily on the procedural maneuvers of the defense rather than the substantive constitutional arguments. The court is currently weighing a motion from the Accord Party to file an additional counter-affidavit, alongside jurisdictional challenges filed by the defendant parties. These preliminary objections are viewed by legal observers as a strategic attempt to terminate the suit before the court can examine the merits of the deregistration claims. According to counsel for the ADC, Shaibu Enejo Aruwa (SAN), the party is prioritizing these jurisdictional hurdles as a primary defense.