The Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected an application by former Bayelsa East Senator, Clever Marcus Ikisikpo, seeking to join a suit aimed at barring the African Democratic Congress, ADC, from participating in the 2027 general elections.
Justice Peter Lifu delivered the ruling on Tuesday after Ikisikpo filed a motion on notice requesting to be joined as a co plaintiff in the case.
Through his counsel, Kalu Kalu Agu, the former lawmaker sought to align with a group of ex legislators who instituted the suit against the ADC.
However, the plaintiffs opposed his application. Their lead counsel, Yakubu Abdullahi Ruba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, argued that Ikisikpo was not a member of their association and described his attempt to join the suit as unnecessary and suspicious.
During proceedings, the court directed Ikisikpo’s lawyer to provide proof of his client’s membership of the plaintiff association, which he failed to do.
Justice Lifu also ruled that Ikisikpo’s status as a former legislator did not automatically qualify him for membership in the group.
Following this, his counsel withdrew the application, which the court subsequently struck out.
The suit also targets other political parties including the Accord Party, Zenith Labour Party ZLP, and Action Alliance AA, over alleged violations of Section 225 of the 1999 Constitution.
The forum of former legislators is asking the court to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to deregister parties that fail to meet constitutional requirements, such as securing at least 25 percent of votes in a state during presidential elections or winning elective seats.
They are also seeking orders to restrain INEC from recognizing or permitting the political activities of the affected parties until they comply with constitutional provisions.
According to the plaintiffs, allowing such parties to participate in the 2027 elections could overcrowd ballot papers, waste public resources, and weaken the integrity of the electoral process.
