The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed February 24, 2026, to hear a suit seeking to compel the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress and other political parties over alleged constitutional breaches. The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/25, was filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators against the Independent National Electoral Commission, the Attorney-General of the Federation, and five political parties — African Democratic Congress, Accord Party, Zenith Labour Party, and Action Alliance. Speaking with journalists after the stalled hearing, counsel for the plaintiff, Yakubu Ruba (SAN), said the action seeks a judicial interpretation of constitutional and statutory provisions governing the registration and continued recognition of political parties in Nigeria. “We are before the court purely for constitutional interpretation. At the centre of the dispute is whether INEC is constitutionally bound to deregister political parties that failed to meet minimum electoral performance thresholds prescribed by law.

Source: Punch February 16, 2026 16:46 UTC