The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed May 5 for hearing in a suit seeking to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission to deregister the African Democratic Congress and some other political parties over alleged constitutional breaches.

Justice Peter Lifu fixed the date on Monday after granting an application by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators to amend its originating summons to include other political parties allegedly found to be in breach of relevant provisions of the law.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2025, seeks the deregistration of the ADC, Accord Party, Zenith Labour Party and Action Alliance.

Also listed as defendants are INEC and the Attorney-General of the Federation.

In a short ruling, Justice Lifu directed parties yet to respond to the amended originating summons to do so without delay, noting that the matter was time-sensitive and of public importance.

The judge observed that, with party primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections, there was a need to determine the case expeditiously.

He subsequently ordered all parties to file the necessary processes before May 1 and adjourned the matter until May 5 for a definite hearing.

The plaintiffs are seeking declaratory orders that the electoral body is duty-bound to enforce constitutional benchmarks as preconditions for the registration, recognition, and participation of parties in elections.

They are also seeking an order compelling INEC to deregister the listed parties.

Furthermore, the plaintiffs are urging the court to mandate that INEC refrain from recognising, accepting, or giving effect to any political correspondence from the aforementioned parties, unless and until they fully comply with constitutional and statutory requirements.

In a supporting affidavit deposed to by Igbokwe Nnanna, Chairman, Board of Trustees and National Coordinator of the NFFL, the plaintiffs claimed that the parties did not secure the constitutionally required 25 per cent of votes in at least one state in presidential elections, nor any representation across the country’s 8,809 wards, 774 local government areas, 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

They further warned that unless restrained by the court, INEC may unlawfully permit the affected parties to participate in the 2027 general elections, thereby “clogging the ballot papers, overstretching administrative resources and misleading voters.” (The PUNCH)