BREAKING: Lateef Fagbemi Asks Court To Deregister ADC And Four Other Parties Ahead Of 2027 Polls

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A report published by Vanguard on April 30, 2026, indicates that the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has expressed support for a legal action seeking the deregistration of five political parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The case, currently before the Federal High Court in Abuja, challenges the continued recognition of these parties on the grounds that they have allegedly failed to meet constitutional requirements necessary to remain registered.

The suit calls on the court to direct the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove political parties that do not satisfy the electoral performance standards outlined in the 1999 Constitution, as amended. These standards include securing a minimum number of votes or winning legislative seats in elections.

In legal submissions, the Attorney General argued that retaining parties that consistently fail to meet these benchmarks undermines constitutional provisions and places unnecessary strain on the electoral system. He emphasized that such a situation complicates election management and weakens the effectiveness of democratic processes.

Furthermore, the Attorney General maintained that INEC has a clear constitutional responsibility to deregister parties that do not achieve the required electoral thresholds. According to him, enforcing these provisions is essential to maintaining order and credibility within Nigeria’s political system.

The parties named in the suit, in addition to the ADC, include the Action Peoples Party, Action Alliance, Accord Party, and Zenith Labour Party. The plaintiffs contend that these parties have not met the legal criteria in recent elections and should therefore be removed from the list of registered political entities.

The suit also seeks a judicial declaration affirming that INEC is legally obligated to deregister such parties and prevent them from participating in future elections until they meet the necessary conditions. The plaintiffs argue that allowing inactive or underperforming parties to remain registered diminishes electoral integrity and contradicts the objectives of electoral reforms.

The court is being urged to grant all requested reliefs and ensure that INEC enforces constitutional provisions ahead of the 2027 general elections without delay.