The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled February 24 to begin hearing a case seeking the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress and three other political parties ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections. The suit was filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators, which argues that the parties no longer meet constitutional requirements to remain registered.

The legal action also names the Accord Party, Zenith Labour Party, and Action Alliance as respondents. The plaintiffs want the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Attorney-General of the Federation to remove the parties from the official register, claiming they failed to meet electoral performance benchmarks outlined in the Constitution and Electoral Act.

According to court filings, the group insists the affected parties have not secured required results in past elections, such as winning a seat, obtaining a certain percentage of votes, or gaining representation at local or national levels. It argues that keeping such parties on the register violates legal provisions and weakens the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral system.

The plaintiffs further claim that allowing the parties to contest in 2027 could overcrowd ballots and strain election logistics. They say the case is meant to promote accountability and ensure compliance with electoral laws. The court’s decision after the hearing could determine whether the parties remain eligible to operate and participate in future elections.