ADC: INEC opposed our deregistration in court

The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has faulted the Federal High Court judgment ordering its deregistration, saying the Independent National Electoral Commission had already told the court that the party did not fall within the category of political parties liable for deregistration.

ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, made the claim during an interview on ARISE News, where he described the judgment as politically motivated and legally questionable.

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had ordered INEC to deregister the ADC, Accord Party, Action Alliance, Action Peoples Party and Zenith Labour Party over alleged failure to meet constitutional requirements for continued registration.

Justice Peter Lifu, who delivered the judgment on Monday, held that the affected parties had breached constitutional provisions guiding the continued existence of political parties.

But Abdullahi said the ruling was difficult to justify because INEC, which is constitutionally empowered to register and deregister political parties, had allegedly informed the court that the ADC had not breached the requirements for registration.

“We don’t think we failed the requirements. And INEC doesn’t think so,” Abdullahi said.

“Don’t forget that INEC was a party to this case, and INEC had deposed an affidavit at the same Federal High Court saying, as far as INEC is concerned, ADC does not fall in the category of parties that will be deregistered based on either failure to meet constitutional requirements or electoral requirements.

“They have met all conditions to exist as a political party in the last 20 years.”

Abdullahi argued that only INEC has the constitutional power to register and deregister political parties, insisting that the electoral body’s position should have been central to the court’s decision.

According to him, the controversy is not just about the ADC, but about the credibility of the judicial process and the future of political competition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“We actually don’t think it’s legal. What is unfolding is political. The court is just the vehicle for promoting the political agenda,” he said.

“What is at stake is not just the politics of African Democratic Congress, it’s also about the sanity of the judicial institution.”

The ADC spokesman also alleged that the ruling was timed to weaken the momentum generated by the party’s announcement of former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, as running mate.

“We have no doubt in our mind that it’s a panicky measure taken in reaction to our announcement that Right Honourable Rotimi Amaechi will be the running mate,” he said.

“So, to kill the momentum of that story, they had to come up with this.”

Abdullahi further claimed that the Court of Appeal had earlier ordered the Federal High Court to stay proceedings in the matter until October 27, arguing that any continuation of the case despite that directive raised questions about judicial hierarchy.

“The Court of Appeal has ordered the Federal High Court, a lower court, this Justice Lifu’s court, to stay proceedings on this matter until October 27,” he said.

“So, it is contempt of the higher court. It goes against anything about jurisprudence that a lower court will disobey a direct order of a higher court.”

He said the ADC would immediately approach the Court of Appeal to challenge the judgment, expressing confidence that the ruling would not survive appellate scrutiny.

“I can assure you by tomorrow morning, we are in the Court of Appeal. We have to obey the institution because we are a law-abiding party, and we still have faith in the institution of the judiciary,” he said.

Abdullahi insisted that the ADC would remain in the 2027 race despite the ruling.

“It is very clear that this is not about justice, it is about politics. But it will not work,” he said.

“ADC will contest the 2027 election. If the election is going to hold in 2027, ADC will be on the ballot.”