Abuja is set for a major political shake-up as the Federal High Court prepares to consider the deregistration of the Africa Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties over alleged constitutional and electoral violations.
The parties, ADC, Accord Party, Zenith Labour Party, Action Alliance (AA) and Action Peoples Party (APP), were dragged before the court by the National Forum of Former Legislators (NFFL), which accused them of persistently failing to meet constitutional and statutory requirements for continued recognition.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2025, comes up for hearing on February 16 and hinges on Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution, which empowers authorities to withdraw recognition from non-performing political parties.
According to the former lawmakers, the continued operation of parties that exist largely in name is weakening Nigeria’s democracy and undermining electoral integrity.
“The continued operation of inactive and non-performing political parties erodes the integrity of Nigeria’s democracy and dilutes the effectiveness of the party system,” said NFFL National Coordinator, Hon. Raphael Igbokwe.
“This action is aimed at enforcing the supremacy of the Constitution and restoring discipline and credibility to the political space.”
The forum insisted the legal action is not politically motivated but aimed at sanitising the political environment and strengthening democratic accountability.
“This suit is not politically motivated,” the group stated. “It is firmly rooted in the rule of law, constitutional compliance, and the urgent need to sanitise Nigeria’s political environment of parties that exist largely in name but fail to meet basic constitutional and statutory obligations.”
