Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has condemned the Federal High Court ruling that ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties, describing the development as undemocratic and inconsistent with the principles of a multi-party democracy.
In a post on X on Monday, June 15, 2026, the human rights activist criticised the deregistration of political parties that had already concluded their primaries and were preparing for future elections. “I totally condemn the deregistration of political parties that have already concluded their primaries and are preparing for general elections. Such an action is undemocratic and unjustifiable in a multi-party democracy, it shall not stand,” he wrote.
Sowore’s reaction followed a judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which ordered INEC to deregister five political parties for allegedly failing to meet constitutional requirements for continued registration. The affected parties are the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the Action Peoples Party (APP), the Action Alliance (AA), the Accord Party (AP) and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP). In the ruling delivered on Monday, the court held that the parties violated provisions of Section 225 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which empowers INEC to deregister political parties that fail to secure elective positions at the federal, state and local government levels. Justice Lifu ruled that the affected parties no longer met the constitutional threshold required to retain their registration and consequently directed the electoral commission to remove them from the list of recognised political parties.
The judgment has far-reaching implications for the political landscape, particularly for the ADC and its presidential candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who had just officially named former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election. The ruling also affects Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, who is seeking re‑election on the Accord Party platform in the August 15, 2026 governorship election.
Sowore’s condemnation adds to a chorus of opposition voices rejecting the court order. Atiku’s camp has also slammed the deregistration, citing a conflicting court order. Paul Ibe, the media adviser to the ADC presidential candidate, described the judgment as President Bola Tinubu’s “bid to entrench a one‑party state.” The ADC and other affected parties are expected to challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal.
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