Unless they successfully appeal the verdict, at least three political heavyweights are effectively out of the 2027 presidential election.

They are the Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, his running mate, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, and the Presidential Candidate of the Accord Party, Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim.

Similarly, Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, is out of the August 2026 election in his state, in which he is seeking re-election on the platform of the Accord Party.

Their lofty political ambitions were truncated earlier today, Monday, June 15, 2026, by a Federal High Court order to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister ADC, Accord, Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) for failing to secure 25 per cent of the votes in the last general elections in compliance with the provisions of the law.

Justice Peter Lifu gave the order while delivering judgement in a suit instituted by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators.

The Judge, who earlier dismissed all the multiple preliminary objections filed by the defendants, ordered INEC not to allow the parties participate in the subsequent elections, including the 2027 general polls, having failed to meet the constitutional threshold.

The Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators had filed the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026 against the five political parties.

The plaintiff, who also joined the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) in the suit, named INEC as 1st defendant.

The forum argued that the affected political parties failed to meet constitutional requirements relating to electoral spread and performance.

It contended that political parties were required to secure at least 25 per cent of votes in prescribed elections to remain relevant under the law.

It, therefore, urged the court to order the deregistration of the parties, insisting that none of the defendants had effectively countered the arguments.

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