The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is one of five political parties that a Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered to be deregistered. This decision could change Nigeria’s political landscape before the general elections in 2027.

In his ruling, Justice Peter Lifu concluded that the parties in question did not comply with Section 225 of the 1999 Constitution, which gives the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the authority to deregister political parties that do not meet certain operational and legal requirements.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC), Actions People’s Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), and Accord Party (AP) are the parties impacted by the court’s ruling.

As to the court’s ruling, the parties did not fulfil the constitutional requirements necessary to maintain their status as officially recognised political entities in Nigeria.

INEC has the power to remove parties from the register under Section 225 of the Constitution if they do not adhere to the specified electoral and constitutional conditions.

Before the 2027 presidential election, the decision may have important political ramifications.

Since the ADC is one of the parties impacted, the ruling casts doubt on the platform’s ability to compete in next elections and may have an impact on political candidates like former vice president Atiku Abubakar.

However, any appeals or additional legal actions that may follow the court’s ruling could determine the judgment’s ultimate significance.