By Gloria Ikibah
A high-stakes legal contest over the possible deregistration of several political parties which includes the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Alliance (AA) and the Accord Party is set to gather momentum on 24 March 2026, as the Federal High Court in Abuja moves to address crucial applications and preliminary objections.
The case, brought by the National Forum of Former Legislators against the Independent National Electoral Commission and a number of political parties, centres on the interpretation of Section 225A of the Fourth Alteration Act (2017) of Nigeria’s Constitution. 
At the previous hearing, overseen by Justice Peter Lifu, attention remained on procedural matters rather than the core arguments of the case. Among the developments, the Accord Party has asked the court for permission to submit an additional counter-affidavit, a request expected to be decided at the next sitting.
The court is also due to consider and rule on all outstanding motions tied to preliminary objections raised by the parties involved, setting the stage for a potentially decisive phase in the proceedings.
Legal observers note a clear pattern emerging from the proceedings so far: the defendant parties appear more focused on challenging the competence of the suit and the jurisdiction of the court, rather than addressing the core constitutional questions raised by the plaintiffs.
Counsel to the African Democratic Congress, Shaibu Enejo Aruwa (SAN), had earlier informed the court of multiple applications filed by the party, including a challenge to the court’s jurisdiction and a request for extension of time to regularize its processes.
Similarly, other defendant parties have filed preliminary objections, raising legal and procedural issues aimed at halting or limiting the court’s consideration of the substantive claims.
The NFFL, however, insists that the matter is of significant public interest, arguing that INEC must be compelled to uniformly apply constitutional provisions governing political party registration and deregistration.
Recall that that the Chairman of the NFFL Board of Trustees, Hon. Raphael Igbokwe, has maintained that selective enforcement of the law undermines constitutional democracy and the rule of law.
The claimants have asked the court to decide whether the defendants, among them the ADC and the Accord Party, have satisfied the constitutional conditions required to maintain their registration.
With the hearing scheduled for 24 March drawing near, the court’s decisions on the outstanding applications and objections will likely shape the course of the case, either paving the way for a substantive hearing or bringing the matter to a halt at an early stage.
