Court fixes June 5 for judgment in suit seeking deregistration of ADC, Accord, others

The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed June 5, 2026, for judgment in a suit seeking the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party, and several other political parties over alleged constitutional breaches.

 

Justice Peter Lifu adjourned the matter on Wednesday after dismissing applications for stay of proceedings and joinder filed by some politicians and political actors seeking to be joined in the case.

 

Those affected by the ruling include Governor Ademola Adeleke, Oluwafemi Abayomi Arabambi of the Accord Party, and Sani Yakubu Noma of the ADC.

 

In his ruling, the judge held that granting a stay of proceedings at this stage would delay justice, noting that political parties were already preparing for upcoming elections.

 

He also referenced Supreme Court precedents cautioning lower courts against granting unnecessary stays that could stall judicial processes.

 

“It is my considered view not to grant the stay except otherwise decided by the upper court,” Justice Lifu ruled.

 

The court also dismissed the joinder applications, holding that most of the affected political parties were already parties to the suit, making individual applications unnecessary.

 

Justice Lifu further directed parties to proceed with the adoption of final written addresses, having earlier ordered an accelerated hearing of the case.

 

During proceedings, counsel to the plaintiff, Yakubu Abdullahi Ruba (SAN), argued that the affected parties failed to meet constitutional requirements for continued political participation, including electoral performance thresholds.

 

He urged the court to order the deregistration of the political parties, insisting that they had not complied with legal requirements governing their existence.

 

Counsel to the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abdullahi Abdulrahman, also urged the court to consider constitutional provisions relevant to the case.

 

However, lawyers representing the affected parties asked the court to dismiss the suit, describing it as lacking merit and urging substantial costs against the plaintiff.

 

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026, was filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and several political parties, including the ADC, Action Alliance, Accord Party, APP, and Zenith Labour Party.

 

Justice Lifu subsequently adjourned the matter to June 5 for judgment.