A federal Court in Nigeria on Monday, June 15, ordered the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) to deregister the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) after ruling in favour of a lawsuit supported by the attorney-general.
The decision comes ahead of Nigeria’s January 2027 presidential election, in which President Bola Tinubu is expected to seek a second term. The ADC has rejected the ruling and announced plans to appeal. Party spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi said the judgment, if upheld, would prevent the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, from contesting the election.
The lawsuit argued that the ADC and four smaller political parties failed to meet the minimum vote thresholds required to remain eligible for future elections. Although initially named as a defendant, the attorney-general’s office later backed the suit, citing its constitutional responsibility.
Abubakar, a former Vice-president known widely as Atiku, finished second in the 2023 presidential election with 29 per cent of the vote, behind Tinubu, who won with 36.6 per cent amid a divided opposition field. If the ruling survives appeal, it could leave the 2027 race without a major presidential contender from northern Nigeria.