The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed June 5, 2026, for judgment in a suit seeking the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress, Accord Party and several other political parties over alleged constitutional breaches.
Justice Peter Lifu fixed the date on Wednesday after dismissing applications for stay of proceedings and joinder filed by politicians and parties seeking inclusion in the matter.
Among those affected by the ruling were Ademola Adeleke, Oluwafemi Abayomi Arabambi of the Accord Party, and Sani Yakubu Noma of the ADC.
In his ruling, Justice Lifu held that granting a stay of proceedings at this stage would create hardship for litigants, especially as political parties were expected to submit names of candidates ahead of upcoming elections.
The judge noted that the Supreme Court had consistently cautioned lower courts against granting unnecessary stays of proceedings.
He further stated that although some applicants had already approached the Court of Appeal, the trial court was still entitled to conclude hearing of the case unless directed otherwise by the appellate court.
“It is my considered view not to grant the stay except otherwise decided by the upper court,” the judge ruled, adding that the applications lacked merit and were dismissed.
On the issue of joinder, the court held that most of the political parties seeking representation were already defendants in the suit, making the inclusion of individual members unnecessary.
Justice Lifu consequently dismissed the applications filed by the 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th defendants seeking joinder.
The court also heard arguments from counsel to the Action Peoples Party, Peter Abang, who requested dismissal of the suit on grounds that similar issues were already before the Court of Appeal.
Justice Lifu stated that the court would consider the appellate court’s position alongside arguments raised by all parties before delivering judgment.
During adoption of final processes, counsel to the plaintiff, Yakubu Abdullahi Ruba, SAN, representing the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators, argued that the affected parties failed to satisfy constitutional requirements relating to electoral spread and performance.
Ruba relied on Supreme Court authorities, maintaining that political parties were required to secure at least 25 per cent of votes in prescribed elections to remain relevant under the law.
He urged the court to order the deregistration of the parties, insisting that the defendants failed to sufficiently counter the claims.
Representing the Attorney General of the Federation, Abdullahi Abdulrahman argued that the AGF possesses constitutional authority to defend and support actions aimed at ensuring compliance with the Constitution.
Counsel representing the third to seventh defendants, however, urged the court to dismiss the suit with substantial costs.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026, was filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators against the Independent National Electoral Commission and several political parties including the ADC, Action Alliance, APP, Accord Party, and Zenith Labour Party.
