A legal move by the Forum of former Legislators seeking to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five political parties has gained significant momentum following the intervention of the Attorney General of the Federation.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, who is also a defendant in the case, surprisingly aligned with the former lawmakers during proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja, supporting their push to remove the affected parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The AGF argued that the continued registration of parties such as the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party, Action Alliance, Action Peoples Party, and Zenith Labour Party contravenes constitutional provisions and weakens Nigeria’s electoral system.
He maintained that INEC has a constitutional responsibility to act against parties that fail to meet legal requirements, warning that failure to do so amounts to a breach of duty.
According to him, the right to form political parties is not absolute and must operate within the limits of the Constitution.
The suit, filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators, seeks court orders directing INEC to deregister parties that allegedly failed to meet minimum electoral thresholds, including winning a required percentage of votes or securing elective positions at various levels of government.
The plaintiffs argue that these parties performed poorly in the 2023 general elections and subsequent polls but continue to remain on INEC’s register, which they describe as unlawful and harmful to the credibility of the electoral process.
They are also asking the court to bar the affected parties from participating in future elections or engaging in political activities unless they comply with constitutional standards.
Central to their argument is that INEC has a mandatory duty under the Constitution to deregister non-performing parties, leaving no room for discretion once they fail to meet set conditions.
In a notable twist, the Attorney General also emphasised that supporting the case aligns with his constitutional duty to uphold the law and ensure proper implementation of electoral regulations.
He further described the case as one in the public interest, aimed at strengthening democratic accountability and improving the efficiency of Nigeria’s electoral system.
The legal team representing the Attorney General includes Prof. Joshua Olatoke, SAN, alongside several other counsel, who filed the submissions before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
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