Coalition in Jeopardy: Court Sets March 24 to Rule on Deregistration of ADC, Accord
MAKOGI — A significant legal threat to Nigeria’s emerging opposition movement has taken center stage, as the Federal High Court in Abuja fixed Tuesday, March 24, 2026, for a crucial ruling in a lawsuit seeking to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party, and three other political platforms.
The high-stakes legal battle, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/25, was instituted by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators (NFFL). The plaintiffs are asking the court to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney-General of the Federation to strike these parties from Nigeria’s political register over alleged constitutional breaches and “electoral irrelevance.”
If Justice Lifu ultimately rules in favor of the former lawmakers and orders INEC to deregister the ADC, the emerging coalition will lose its foundational structure, forcing the opposition back to the drawing board just 360 days before the 2027 presidential poll. After hearing arguments from all sides and granting extensions for some respondents to regularise their processes, Justice Lifu adjourned the matter to March 24, 2026, to deliver rulings on the joinder applications and jurisdiction motions.
The Case for Deregistration
The NFFL contends that the affected parties—which also include the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Action Alliance (AA), and Action Peoples Party (APP)—have consistently failed to meet the mandatory electoral benchmarks stipulated in Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The Threshold: To maintain their legal status, a political party must secure at least 25% of votes cast in one state during a presidential election or win at least one legislative or local government seat.
The Accusation: In an affidavit deposed by NFFL National Coordinator, Raphael Nnanna Igbokwe, the group accuses INEC of neglecting its constitutional duty by allowing these “inactive” parties to clutter the ballot papers and waste public resources ahead of the 2027 general elections. The forum insists the ADC and Accord failed to meet this threshold during the last general elections and recent 2025/2026 bye-elections.
Courtroom Drama and Legal Maneuvers
During the proceedings on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, the presiding judge, Justice Peter Lifu, navigated a series of heated legal disputes among the defense counsels.
Accord Party’s Defense: Musibau Adetunbi (SAN), counsel for the Accord Party, moved an application seeking leave to file a further counter-affidavit to protect the party against the deregistration push. Plaintiff counsel Yakubu Abdullahi Ruba (SAN) fiercely opposed the move, arguing that no new facts were introduced in the amended originating summons and describing the tactic as unknown to law.
AA Representation Clash: Drama ensued when two different lawyers from separate firms—Ibrahim Yakubu and Bello Lukman—both claimed legitimate authorization to represent the Action Alliance (AA). Justice Lifu ordered the lawyers to reconcile their mandates, warning that the court would “do the needful” if they failed to align.
A Direct Blow to the 2027 Opposition Merger?
The deregistration suit carries massive political implications that extend far beyond regulatory housekeeping. Recently, opposition heavyweights, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, adopted the ADC as the primary vehicle for their “Third Force” mega-coalition against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
If Justice Lifu ultimately rules in favor of the former lawmakers and orders INEC to deregister the ADC, the emerging coalition will lose its foundational structure, forcing the opposition back to the drawing board just 360 days before the 2027 presidential poll.
After hearing arguments from all sides and granting extensions for some respondents to regularize their processes, Justice Lifu adjourned the matter to March 24, 2026, to deliver rulings on the joinder applications and jurisdiction motions.