Nigerian court orders electoral body to deregister main opposition party, 4 others

A Nigerian court has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC), one of the country's main opposition parties, along with four others. The Federal High Court's decision on Monday stems from the parties' alleged failure to meet constitutional requirements regarding electoral performance.

Nigerian law stipulates that political parties must win at least one elective seat at any level or secure at least 25 percent of votes in a presidential election to avoid deregistration. The ruling could significantly alter the political landscape ahead of the January elections.

This decision poses a potential hurdle for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who was the ADC's presidential candidate and a key challenger to President Bola Tinubu. The deregistration could narrow the opposition field, impacting the dynamics of the upcoming electoral contest.

The ADC has strongly rejected the court's order. Party spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi described the ruling as "a direct invitation to anarchy" and confirmed that the party will pursue an appeal through all available legal and constitutional channels.

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a direct invitation to anarchy