The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned the judgment reportedly delivered by the Federal High Court in Abuja ordering its deregistration, describing the ruling as a threat to Nigeria’s democracy and warning that attempts to eliminate opposition parties could trigger a political crisis.
In a statement on Monday, the party accused Justice Peter Lifu of disregarding constitutional provisions and established judicial procedures in the case filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators seeking the deregistration of the ADC and four other political parties.
According to the party, the plaintiffs had argued that the affected political parties failed to meet constitutional requirements for continued registration. However, the ADC maintained that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in a counter-affidavit filed in May, had clearly stated that the party did not violate any registration conditions and that no legal basis existed for its deregistration.
The party noted that INEC, as the constitutional body responsible for the registration and regulation of political parties, had emphasized that deregistration could only be based on constitutionally established grounds and not on political pressure or the wishes of interested parties.
The ADC also faulted the trial judge for allegedly proceeding with the matter despite a subsisting Court of Appeal order issued on May 22, 2026, directing a stay of proceedings. It argued that the decision to continue with the case amounted to a disregard of a superior court’s directive.
Describing the development as more than a legal dispute, the party alleged that agents of the ruling party were behind efforts to weaken the opposition. It specifically referenced the involvement of individuals linked to the President’s Chief of Staff and criticized the decision of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, a defendant in the suit, to join the case as a plaintiff.
The ADC further claimed that the timing of the judgment was suspicious, coming after the party had concluded its primaries and fielded candidates for elective positions ahead of the next general election, including the presidential race.
The opposition party warned that any attempt to remove a major opposition platform through what it termed “judicial manoeuvring” would undermine the political aspirations of its candidates and could destabilize the country’s democratic system.
Calling the ruling “reckless, provocative and incendiary,” the ADC cautioned those seeking to restrict the democratic space against manipulating state institutions for partisan purposes.
The party added that, at a time when Nigerians were grappling with economic hardship, insecurity and unemployment, government officials should focus on addressing national challenges rather than targeting opposition parties.
