ABUJA, Nigeria — The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has fixed Monday, March 24, 2026, to deliver its ruling in a case seeking the deregistration of four political parties in Nigeria.
The suit was filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators against the Independent National Electoral Commission, the Attorney General of the Federation, and the African Democratic Congress, Accord Party, Zenith Labour Party, and Action Alliance.
The plaintiffs are asking the court to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission to remove the parties from the register of recognised political parties, alleging that they failed to meet constitutional requirements necessary for continued existence under Nigerian law.
Proceedings before Justice Peter Lifu took a dramatic turn when two lawyers appeared separately, each claiming to represent the Action Alliance.
The lawyers, Ibrahim Yakubu and Bello Lukman, told the court that they had been duly instructed and presented different letters of authority to back their claims.
Justice Lifu directed both counsel to resolve the internal dispute, warning that the court would take necessary steps if they failed to put their affairs in order.
Meanwhile, counsel for the Accord Party, Musibau Adetunbi, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, applied for leave to file a further counter affidavit. He argued that the additional document was required to address issues not covered in the earlier response.
The application was opposed by the plaintiffs’ lawyer, Yakubu Abdullahi Ruba, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who maintained that there were no fresh facts to justify the request.
Other respondents also sought more time to regularise their processes and challenged the jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter.
Justice Lifu granted the applications for extension of time and deemed the plaintiff’s reply on points of law as properly filed.
The court subsequently adjourned the case to March 24 for ruling on the pending applications, including the joinder request and jurisdictional objections.