The African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) may not contest the 2027 general elections after all.
This indication follows an order of the Federal High Court in Abuja to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister them.
The court followed a judgment delivered today by Justice Peter Lifu, following a suit filed the National Forum of Former Legislators.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026, National Forum of Former Legislators said the parties had failed to meet the constitutional benchmarks required to retain their registration.
According to them, the electoral performance thresholds in reference are as set out in Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), as well as the Electoral Act 2022.
According to them, included in the requirement, is the winning of at least 25 per cent of votes in a state during a presidential election or securing at least one elective seat at the national, state, or local government level are also part of those requirements in reference.
According to the litigants, the aforementioned parties do not qualify to run in the 2027 general elections as they:
- performed poorly in both the 2023 general elections
- performed poorly in the by-elections conducted by INEC,
- Failed to win seats at the local government, state and national levels.
The litigants thus urged the court to rule in their favour, and direct INEC to deregister the parties.
They are also asking that they should not be allowed to participate in other activities building up to the election proper, based on their arguments.
IT is expected that the concerned political parties may have to rally with an appeal otherwise their chances of participating in the polls may he hampered.
The Eagle reports that the National Forum of Former Legislators (NFFL), had endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as their sole candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
They announced their stance at their National Summit reportedly attended by over two thousand delegates, at which both former Speakers of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Patricia Etteh and Mr. Yakubu Dogara respectively commended President Tinubu for improved security across Nigeria, amongst others.
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