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The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties.

The order was given on Monday by Justice Peter Lifu in his ruling on the suit filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026.

According to him, the affected parties have persistently failed to meet constitutional performance thresholds.

The other parties affected are the Action Peoples Party, Action Alliance, Accord Party and Zenith Labour Party.

The National Forum of Former Legislators had, in the suit, prayed the court to determine whether INEC has a constitutional obligation to remove political parties that fail to meet the electoral performance thresholds set out in Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), as reinforced by the Electoral Act 2022 and INEC’s regulations.

The plaintiff argued that the five political parties listed as defendants in the matter had persistently failed to meet the constitutional benchmarks required to retain their registration.

The former legislators stressed that the requirements include winning at least 25 percent of votes in a state during a presidential election or securing at least one elective seat at the national, state, or local government level.

They told the court that the ADC and the four other parties performed poorly in both the 2023 general elections and by-elections conducted by INEC, thereby failing to win seats across key tiers of government.

The litigants insisted that the continued existence of the ADC and the other defendants as recognised political parties in Nigeria is unlawful and undermines the integrity of the country’s electoral system.

Among other reliefs, the plaintiff urged the court to declare that INEC is duty-bound to deregister such parties and compel the commission to do so before preparations for the 2027 elections advance further.

The plaintiff also asked the court to restrain the five parties from participating in elections or engaging in political activities such as campaigns, rallies and primaries, and to bar INEC from recognising or dealing with them unless they strictly comply with constitutional provisions.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is the ADC presidential candidate for the 2027 elections, while the Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, is seeking re-election on the platform of the Accord party.

Both politicians and other candidates may be affected by the court ruling.

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A 43-year-old pilgrim from Niger, Alhaji Salisu Ibrahim, has been confirmed dead in Makkah after performing the Hajj rites.

The Public Relations Officer (PRO), Niger Pilgrims’ Welfare Board, Jibrin Usman-Kodo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday that Ibrahim, who hailed from Kontagora LGA, died from injuries sustained in a road crash in Makkah.

He said the deceased was involved in the crash while returning from the Holy Mosque.

According to the PRO, the late pilgrim died on Saturday, June 13, and was buried in Makkah in accordance with Islamic rites and the sanctity of the holy land.

“The Board expresses deep sorrow over this tragic loss and extends heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased, the people of Kontagora Local Government Area, and the entire Muslim Ummah,” he said.

Usman-Kodo said a total of 343 pilgrims from the state had been transported back in the first batch, while the second batch of 345 was expected to arrive on Monday, June 15.

He said the second batch comprises pilgrims drawn from Kontagora, Rijau, Mashegu and Chanchaga LGAs.

“The second batch of 345 returning pilgrims from Niger has arrived at King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah, where they are undergoing screening and boarding formalities ahead of their return journey home,” he said.

(NAN)

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Residents of at least 26 communities in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State have begun contributing money to pay fresh levies imposed by bandits who have also barred them from accessing their farms ahead of the wet season farming activities.

Residents told Daily Trust that the armed groups issued a three-day ultimatum, warning farmers not to visit their farmlands until the levies demanded from the affected communities were paid.

According to the sources, the affected communities include; Garin Faji, Cina Barka, Zululu, Dan Gari, Garin Maigayya, Gardi, Katsira, Garin Baushe, Sulmawa, Zakin Ganga, Dan Kware, Garje, Dogon Faru, Son Allah, Garin Galadima, Kafchi, Matabaya, Garin Labo, Zango, Kaifin Aska, Tsauna Dogo, Tudun Wada, Rambadawa, Ga Itace, Nasarawa and Garin Idi.

A resident who maintains close contact with people in the affected villages said the bandits threatened to kill or abduct anyone found farming during the period.

“The communities were given three days. They said nobody should go to the farms until the money is paid. Anyone caught farming would either be killed or kidnapped and would not regain freedom until a ransom of N500,000 is paid,” he said.

He said residents had already started contributing money to meet the demands.

A resident of Zululu village, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he was preparing to go to his farm on Friday when he learnt of the directive.

“We were told that the bandits had banned farming activities for three days until the villages paid the levies they impose every year.

“They said they could have allowed people to go to their farms and then kill some and abduct others, but they wanted the money instead.

According to them, security operatives have been seizing their livestock, so no farming would take place until the levies were paid,” he said.

He said traditional rulers and Islamic clerics from the affected communities were expected to meet with the bandits to determine how much each village would pay before residents could resume farming.

The resident said the communities had been subjected to such payments for years.

“We pay before planting and sometimes every two or three months. Even after paying now, they may return in about three months and say nobody should harvest millet until another levy is paid.

“They usually demand between N4 million and N6 million from a community. Villagers contribute according to their means. Some households pay N1,500 or N2,000, while in some villages farmers contribute as much as N5,000 each depending on the population,” he said.

Another source, who is an indigene of Garin Idi village and currently residing in Sabon Birni town, who visited the community on Friday to sympathise with residents following the abduction of about 20 people in the early hours of the day, confirmed that the affected communities had already started raising money to pay the levies.

He alleged that when the bandits felt the payments were being delayed, they stormed Garin Idi and abducted about 20 people on Friday.

“They later told community leaders that N600,000 must be paid before the victims could be released. The money was raised and paid, leading to the release of the abductees on Friday,” he said.

The source added that five other persons were still being held captive.

“As of now, there are still five people in their custody. They said they will not release them until the levy is paid. Even after farming, they may still prevent people from harvesting until fresh payments are made,” he said.

He further alleged that farmers are often compelled to surrender part of their harvest to the bandits before they are allowed to store food in their barns.

“Every year, after harvesting, they demand part of the produce from farmers before allowing them to store their crops. This has become a recurring burden on our communities,” he said.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in Sokoto State, DSP Ahmad Rufai, said the command was not aware of the development.

“We are not aware of such a situation. Most times, communities do not report these kinds of incidents to security agencies,” he said.

Efforts to get the reaction of the Sokoto State Government were unsuccessful. Text and WhatsApp messages sent to the governor’s spokesman, Abubakar Bawa, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Col. Ahmad Usman (rtd), seeking their comments on the allegations had not been responded to as of the time of filing this report.