ADC faults judgment on deregistration, says ruling threatens democracy

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has faulted a Federal High Court judgment reportedly directing the deregistration of the party and other political parties, warning that the development poses a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.

A federal high court in Abuja had ordered the electoral commission, INEC to deregister the ADC and four other political parties.

The other political parties are the Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

ADC in a statement on Monday signed by its national publicity secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said it was “deeply alarmed” by the ruling allegedly delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in a case filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators seeking the deregistration of the ADC and four other parties.

It described the judgment as “in direct conflict with constitutional principles and all known judicial processes and procedures,” warning against what it called the use of the judiciary to undermine democracy.

“We are deeply alarmed by the judgment reportedly delivered… This judgment stands in direct conflict with constitutional principles,” the party said.

The ADC also alleged that the case was being driven by political interests, claiming involvement of individuals linked to the Presidency. It warned that such actions could destabilise the political system.

“You are playing with fire,” the party warned, adding that any attempt to eliminate a major opposition party through judicial processes would amount to “a direct invitation to anarchy.”

The party further argued that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had, in its counter-affidavit filed in May, maintained that the ADC had not breached any registration requirements.

According to the ADC, INEC stated that the party had “not violated any registration requirements, had not failed any constitutional electoral-performance threshold, and that no legally recognised basis existed for its deregistration.”