The Action Peoples Party (APP) has disclosed that the Supreme Court has brought to a close the legal battle seeking the deregistration APP, affirming the party’s status as a legally recognised political party.
According to the party, the apex court dismissed Appeal No. SC/CV/248/2026, filed by Mr Blessing Elujiuba, thereby leaving intact the earlier judgments of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal, which had both ruled in favour of the APP.
The decision clears the way for the party’s participation in the 2027 general elections.
The appeal was struck out on May 12, 2026, by a five-member panel of the Supreme Court led by Justice John Inyang Okoro after the appellant formally withdrew the case.
Delivering the ruling, Justice Okoro said, “This appeal is hereby dismissed having been withdrawn without objection.”
The respondents in the suit were the Independent National Electoral Commission, the Action Peoples Party and the party’s National Chairman, Uche Kingsley Nnadi.
The Supreme Court’s decision effectively leaves the Court of Appeal’s judgment in favour of APP unchallenged and binding.
The legal action had sought to compel INEC to deregister the party over claims that it failed to meet the requirements under Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
In its earlier unanimous judgment, the Court of Appeal sitting in Owerri dismissed the appellant’s claims and upheld the decision of the Federal High Court, which found that the APP had met the constitutional requirements to remain registered.
Justice Ntong Festus Ntong, who delivered the lead judgment at the appellate court, held that the appellant failed to prove allegations that the party had not won elections or satisfied the constitutional benchmarks for continued registration.
The court held that APP presented credible and unchallenged evidence showing that it had won elective positions, including a councillorship seat in Jigawa State and victories in Rivers State local government elections.
According to the appellate court, those facts weakened the argument that the party had failed to meet the constitutional conditions for continued existence.
The Court of Appeal also endorsed the position of INEC and APP that Section 225A of the Constitution should be interpreted disjunctively, meaning that meeting any of the stipulated conditions is sufficient to sustain a political party’s registration.
The judges unanimously held that there was no legal basis for APP’s deregistration.
Justice Oyebisi Folayemi Omoleye described the appeal as “completely bereft of merit,” while Justice Mohammed Lawal Abubakar agreed that the challenge lacked merit and deserved dismissal.
The legal challenge had sought far-reaching orders, including the deregistration of APP, the disqualification of its leadership and an injunction restraining the party from sponsoring candidates or participating in the 2027 general elections.
However, with the Federal High Court, Court of Appeal and now the Supreme Court resolving the matter in favour of the party, APP’s eligibility to field candidates is no longer under judicial threat.
