A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday granted an application for the joinder of the Accord Party (AP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Action Alliance (AA), and Action Peoples Party (APP) in the deregistration suit filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators (NFFL).
The ruling by the trial judge, Justice Peter Lifu, has cleared the stage for the full hearing of the suit filed by the former legislators, seeking to deregister the ADC, Accord, ZLP, APP, and AA.
In his ruling, the court held that the amendment was necessary to formally bring all affected parties before it, as they are necessary and proper parties for the just determination of the suit.
Justice Lifu directed parties yet to respond to the amended processes to do so promptly, stressing that the case is time-sensitive. He noted that with “party primaries approaching, there is an urgent need to resolve the matter without delay.”
The judge subsequently ordered all parties to file the necessary processes on or before May 1.
Meanwhile, lead counsel to the plaintiff, NFFL, Gbenga Peter Makanjuola, expressed appreciation to the court for what he described as a well-considered ruling that serves the interest of justice and fairness to all parties.
Speaking to journalists after the ruling, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the NFFL, Raphael Igbokwe, said the court’s decision has now cleared the way for the hearing of the substantive suit.
“The court recognised that time is of the essence, especially given the political calendar. We have also raised concerns about several dilatory applications and motions filed by some parties who appear unwilling to submit to the court’s jurisdiction,” he stated.
Igbokwe maintained that the suit is fundamentally about the interpretation of constitutional provisions.
“At the heart of this case is the need for a clear interpretation of Section 225A of the Constitution, particularly regarding whether some political parties are still eligible to exist under the law,” he said, while questioning the delay by some defendants in responding to the suit.
“If someone challenges your qualification, all you need to do is present proof that you meet the requirements. The hesitation we are observing from parties, especially the Accord Party, raises concerns, as some seem intent on stalling proceedings,” he added.
According to him, the action is not targeted at any specific political party but is aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s legal and electoral framework.
“This is not about singling out any party. It is about deepening our electoral jurisprudence and ensuring that all institutions and actors operate within the confines of the law,” he said.
Responding to concerns about the impact on the ADC, Igbokwe noted that the party is only one of several involved in the suit.
“The ADC is not the only party before the court. If it has internal issues, that is its business and separate from our case. Our concern is that as of December 2025, when we filed this suit, several parties had not met the constitutional requirements to continue to exist as political parties,” he explained.
He also questioned INEC’s stance, recalling its previous actions. “In 2020, INEC deregistered 74 political parties under the same constitutional provision. We are asking why the Commission appears reluctant to take similar steps now. That is why we are asking the court to compel it to act in line with the law,” he said.
The presiding judge had earlier ordered an accelerated hearing in view of INEC’s timetable for party primaries. The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2025, seeks to compel INEC to enforce Section 225A of the Constitution on political parties alleged to have failed to meet the required constitutional thresholds.
The case was last heard on April 17, 2026, and was adjourned until Monday, April 27, 2026, for a ruling on the application by the Forum of Former Legislators.
