The Federal High Court in Abuja has indefinitely postponed proceedings in a high-profile lawsuit seeking the deregistration of several political parties, including the African Democratic Congress, Accord Party, Action Alliance, and other registered political organisations.
The case, which was scheduled for judgment on Friday before Justice Peter Lifu, was unexpectedly stalled following the intervention of the Court of Appeal. The appellate court had granted a stay of proceedings on May 29 after an application filed by the Accord Party, effectively halting the delivery of judgment and suspending further action in the matter.
At the commencement of proceedings, the court registrar informed lawyers and interested parties that the judgment would no longer be delivered as earlier scheduled. The registrar stated that a fresh date would be communicated once legal issues arising from the appellate court’s decision are resolved.
The suit was instituted by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators, a group seeking judicial interpretation of constitutional and electoral provisions governing the existence of political parties in Nigeria. The forum argues that several political parties have failed to meet the electoral performance requirements stipulated by law and should therefore be deregistered.
Named as the first defendant in the case is the Independent National Electoral Commission, alongside a number of political parties, including the ADC, Action Alliance, Action Peoples Party, Accord Party, Zenith Labour Party, and others.
According to the plaintiffs, the affected parties have not demonstrated sufficient electoral relevance and have failed to satisfy constitutional requirements relating to electoral spread and performance. The forum contends that political parties are expected to secure a minimum threshold of electoral support, including at least 25 percent of votes in prescribed elections, to justify continued registration and participation in Nigeria’s political system.
The plaintiffs further argue that maintaining parties with limited electoral presence contributes to the proliferation of inactive political platforms and complicates the country’s electoral process. They insist that deregistration would strengthen democratic institutions by encouraging the emergence of more viable and nationally competitive political organisations.
Reacting to the development, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators, Mr. Raphael Igbokwe, expressed dissatisfaction with the Court of Appeal’s decision to halt the proceedings at such an advanced stage.
Speaking to journalists after the court session, Igbokwe described the stay of proceedings as a significant setback, noting that the case had already reached the judgment stage. He argued that the appellate court’s intervention effectively amounted to an “arrest of judgment” and delayed the resolution of important constitutional questions surrounding party registration and electoral compliance.
Despite the setback, he disclosed that the forum has already approached the Supreme Court to challenge the Court of Appeal’s decision. According to him, the group remains committed to pursuing all available legal remedies to ensure that the substantive issues raised in the case are determined by the courts.
The legal battle is expected to have far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s political landscape. A ruling in favour of the plaintiffs could potentially affect the status of several smaller political parties and reignite debates over the powers of INEC to regulate party registration and deregistration under the Constitution and the Electoral Act.
Political analysts note that the case also touches on broader questions about political pluralism, electoral competitiveness, and the balance between encouraging diverse political participation and ensuring that registered parties maintain a meaningful presence in the democratic process.
For now, the future of the case remains uncertain as attention shifts to the appellate courts and the pending challenge before the Supreme Court. Until those legal questions are resolved, the affected political parties will continue to retain their registration status and remain eligible to participate in Nigeria’s electoral process.
