By TAIYE AGBAJE

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday ordered the deregistration of African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four others over failure to meet the constitutional requirements for political parties in the country.

Justice Peter Lifu, in a judgement, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the affected parties having failed to secure 25 per cent of the votes in the last general elections in compliance with the provisions of the law.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the five political parties include ADC, Accord (A), Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

Judtice Lifu, 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.

NAN reports that a group, 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. (NAN, but headline amended)