Arabambi urges caution over ADC, Accord, others deregistration case

Abayomi Arabambi, a chieftain of the Labour Party, has cautioned that a court ruling to deregister five Nigerian political parties could trigger instability and undermine the nation's democratic process. The Federal High Court in Abuja is scheduled to deliver a judgment on June 5 in a lawsuit that aims to deregister the African Democratic Congress, Action Alliance, Action Peoples Party, Accord Party, and Zenith Labour Party.

Arabambi, speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, criticized proponents of the deregistration suit, labeling them as "enemies of democracy" seeking to destabilize Nigeria. He questioned the legal authority of the plaintiffs, the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators, to represent Nigerians in this matter. Arabambi pointed out that the group was established in 2025, after the 2023 general elections that form the basis of the dispute, and has not demonstrated that Nigerians authorized it to file the suit.

The Labour Party's Southwest Vice Chairman also expressed frustration with the court's decision to deny his application to be joined as an interested party, despite his arguments challenging the plaintiffs' locus standi. He revealed that he has filed an appeal against this ruling. Justice Peter Odo Lifu had previously dismissed applications for joinder and stay of proceedings, stating that the parties involved were already part of the case and that the matter was too advanced to be delayed.

The suit, filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators, seeks to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission to deregister the parties for allegedly failing to meet constitutional requirements regarding electoral spread and performance.

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Those pushing for the deregistration of these political parties are pursuing chaos. They want political insurrection. They are enemies of our democratic order.