“Not by Law” — INEC Breaks Silence on Plot to Deregister ADC Ahead of 2027 Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially opposed a legal move aimed at deregistering the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and several other political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The electoral umpire filed a robust defense before the court, stating clearly that the attempt to scrap the parties does not align with the strict constitutional requirements governing the existence of political associations in Nigeria.

According to documents obtained from the proceedings, the commission maintained that the power to delist a party is “not by law” something to be done on a whim or through external pressure.

INEC argued that none of the specific conditions laid out in the 1999 Constitution for deregistration have been met by the ADC or the other parties mentioned in the suit.

The commission emphasized that it cannot exercise its regulatory powers arbitrarily, insisting that factors such as electoral performance and adherence to registration rules must be proven before any party is removed from the national register.

This legal stance is seen by many as a significant hurdle for those pushing the suit, as INEC holds the statutory authority over the life and death of political parties.

The lawsuit, which also targets Accord, the Action People’s Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), has received backing from the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).

The AGF had previously argued that non-performing parties only serve to clutter the ballot papers and create unnecessary financial burdens on the state.

He urged the court to enforce Section 225A of the Constitution, which allows for the removal of parties that fail to win specific seats or percentages of votes in general elections.

However, the opposition has hit back at the move, describing it as an attempt to stifle democracy. Phrank Shaibu, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, claimed the suit is a “poorly scripted political ambush” intended to silence the opposition before the next election cycle.

He noted that INEC’s refusal to support the deregistration proves that the case lacks legal merit and is instead an attempt at political intimidation.