Former Lawmakers Sue to Deregister ADC, Cite “Total Electoral Irrelevance”

Former Lawmakers Sue to Deregister ADC, Cite “Total Electoral Irrelevance”

A group of ex-lawmakers under the umbrella of the National Forum of Former Legislators (NFFL) has dragged the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the Federal High Court in Abuja, demanding the immediate deregistration of the party for what they describe as “complete electoral insignificance.”The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2025, was filed by Hon. Raphael Nnanna Igbokwe, National Coordinator of the forum and a member of its Board of Trustees. In a supporting affidavit, Igbokwe argued that the ADC has failed to meet virtually every constitutional and electoral benchmark required to retain its status as a registered political party in Nigeria.Key failures highlighted in the suit include:Zero states where the party scored 25% of votes in the last presidential election (a constitutional requirement for national spread) No ward, councillorship, or chairmanship seats won in nationwide local government elections. Zero seats secured in the August 2025 INEC bye-elections at ward, state house of assembly, or federal legislative levels.  The plaintiffs rely heavily on Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which empowers INEC to deregister parties that fail to win at least one legislative seat or secure 25% of votes in one state during a presidential poll. They also cited Section 222 on the basic registration conditions parties must continue to satisfy.Speaking to journalists after filing the suit, Hon. Igbokwe insisted the action is in the public interest and aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.“This is not political witch-hunting or an attempt to create a one-party state,” he said. “A political party must justify its existence through performance, not sentiment. Nigerians deserve vibrant platforms, not ghost parties that only confuse the ballot and waste public funds.”He pointed out that the ADC, once chaired by former Senate President David Mark, has suffered severe decline in recent years, including the reported expulsion of its only remaining National Assembly member, Hon. Leke Abejide, leaving the party with no federal lawmaker for the first time in over a decade.Political analysts say the case could set another major precedent in Nigeria’s ongoing pruning of underperforming parties. In 2021, INEC deregistered 74 parties on similar grounds, a decision the Supreme Court upheld in 2022, affirming that electoral viability is a continuing constitutional obligation.No date has been fixed for hearing, but observers believe the outcome could further reshape Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.The ADC is yet to respond officially to the lawsuit.    

Source: Former Lawmakers Sue to Deregister ADC, Cite “Total Electoral Irrelevance”

 - NigerianEye
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