Unprecedented tension is brewing in Nigeria’s political circle as Justice Peter Odo Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately deregister five major opposition parties including the newly formed coalition party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party and three others from participating in the 2027 general elections over alleged constitutional breaches.
The rest of the parties affected include: Action Alliance, APP and Zenith Labour Party.
Delivery the judgement on Monday, in a suit filed by a group of former lawmakers in the country, Justice Lifu agreed with the Plaintiffs that the defendants did not comply with the law.
With this judgment, former Vice President and presidential candidate of the ADC, Atiku Abubakar, is technically out the 2027 presidential election.
More disturbing is the fact that the, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, seeking re-election in the August 15 governorship poll on the platform of the Accord Party, may now be out of the race.
Recall, the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026, was instituted by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and several political parties.
Earlier in the day, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) had announced the picking of former Rivers State Governor and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, as its vice-presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
The party while announcing the de vision said pairing Amaechi with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on what party leaders described it as a “unity and rescue ticket.”
In a statement sent the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said Amaechi’s emergence followed broad consultations within the party and reflected his strong performance as runner-up in the party’s presidential primaries as well as his track record of service to his State and the country.
The ADC noted that Amaechi’s extensive experience across both the legislative and executive arms of government, as former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, two-term Governor of Rivers State, and former Minister of Transportation, makes him uniquely qualified to complement Atiku’s leadership, strengthen the party’s national appeal, and bolster its campaign to offer Nigerians an experienced and credible alternative ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Meanwhile, the affected parties are yet to issue statements on the shocking development, though it is believed by analysts that an appeal is expected very soon.
