The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has launched an urgent legal battle to stop the immediate deregistration of five opposition political parties, arguing that enforcing the Federal High Court judgment could trigger widespread constitutional and administrative complications ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a move that underscores its determination to protect the existing political landscape, the electoral body filed an appeal and sought a stay of execution at the Court of Appeal in Abuja, barely hours after Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court ordered the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party (AP), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
Justice Lifu’s ruling followed a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026, instituted by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators. The court held that the parties failed to satisfy the electoral performance requirements stipulated under Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution and consequently ordered their removal from the register of political parties.
However, rather than implementing the judgment, INEC immediately moved to halt its enforcement, citing concerns over institutional stability and the possible disruption of preparations for the 2027 polls.
Sources close to the commission disclosed that INEC is approaching the matter from a regulatory standpoint, insisting that maintaining the status quo is necessary until higher courts settle the constitutional questions surrounding the interpretation and application of Section 225A.
According to the sources, immediate compliance with the ruling would throw party activities across the 36 states into uncertainty and could create further complications should the appellate court eventually overturn the judgment.
The commission’s position comes amid escalating legal tensions within the judiciary. In a related development, a panel of the Court of Appeal reportedly criticised the lower court’s decision, describing the trial judge’s action as “judicial impertinence.” The appellate justices observed that Justice Lifu proceeded with the matter despite being aware that a similar constitutional issue concerning Section 225A was already pending before the appellate court.
At the centre of the dispute is a request by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators for a strict interpretation of the constitutional provision, under which any political party that failed to secure 25 per cent of presidential votes in at least one state would automatically lose its registration.
INEC’s appeal, however, highlights the wider implications of such a rigid interpretation, noting that the affected parties are active political organisations with elected representatives.
The ADC, for example, currently has members in the 10th National Assembly, including Hon. Idris Salman and Hon. Leke Joseph Abejide from Kogi State, as well as lawmakers in various State Houses of Assembly. Their party’s deregistration could raise unprecedented constitutional questions regarding the status of serving legislators elected under its platform.
The electoral commission’s intervention has also provided temporary relief for ongoing political realignments ahead of the 2027 elections. The move effectively preserves the newly formed ADC coalition involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.
Similarly, grassroots political activities remain unaffected for now, including the campaign of Architect Bashiru Lawal Aremu, who is seeking election to represent Saki East/Saki West/Atisbo Federal Constituency.
By seeking a stay of execution, INEC has signalled its reluctance to make immediate changes to Nigeria’s multi-party framework pending the outcome of appellate proceedings.
Attention is now focused on the Court of Appeal, whose decision will determine whether the electoral commission will be compelled to implement the deregistration order or succeed in maintaining the current political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.
