The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has vowed to challenge a Federal High Court judgement relating to its deregistration, describing the ruling as a threat to Nigeria’s democracy and warning that any attempt to remove the party from the ballot ahead of the 2027 elections could trigger a wider political crisis.
On Monday, a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, noted that the opposition party rejected the judgment reportedly delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The case was filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators, which sought the deregistration of the ADC and four other political parties.
The ADC said it would pursue all legal and constitutional options to overturn the ruling and would also petition the National Judicial Council over what it described as judicial misconduct.
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The party argued that the judgment contradicts the constitutional role of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which it said is the only body empowered to register and deregister political parties.
According to the ADC, INEC had already informed the court through a counter affidavit filed in May that the party had not violated any registration requirements and that there was no legal basis for its deregistration.
The ADC maintained that INEC clearly stated that deregistration of political parties cannot be based on political pressure or the wishes of interested individuals, but must rest on constitutionally recognised grounds. The party said none of those conditions had been established against it.
A major part of the ADC’s objection centres on what it described as the judge’s disregard for a subsisting Court of Appeal order. According to the party, the appellate court had issued a stay of proceedings on May 22, 2026, directing that the matter should not proceed pending further consideration. The ADC alleged that despite being aware of the order, the trial court went ahead with the case.
Apart from the legal arguments, the party linked the judgement to what it called a broader effort to weaken opposition politics in Nigeria.
It alleged that individuals associated with the ruling government had played active roles in pursuing the case and argued that the timing of the ruling raises concerns, coming after the ADC had completed its primaries and begun fielding candidates for the next general election.
The party warned that any move to remove a major opposition platform from the electoral process would have implications beyond partisan politics.
It said the issue now touches on whether Nigerians will have genuine political choices in the 2027 elections and whether electoral competition will be decided by voters or influenced through state institutions.
The ADC further claimed that attempts to deregister opposition parties could undermine public confidence in democratic institutions at a time when many Nigerians are already grappling with economic hardship, insecurity and unemployment.
While insisting that it remains a law abiding political party, the ADC said it would challenge the judgment through the courts and mobilise democratic stakeholders in defence of what it described as the constitutional rights of its members, candidates and supporters.
The party also called on its members, coalition partners and supporters across the country to remain calm and await further directives, expressing confidence that it would remain on the ballot for the 2027 elections as it pursues legal remedies against the ruling.
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