The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed June 5, 2026, for judgment in a suit seeking the deregistration of several political parties, including the African Democratic Congress, Accord Party, Action Alliance, Action Peoples Party (APP), and Zenith Labour Party over alleged constitutional breaches.
Justice Peter Lifu fixed the date on Wednesday after dismissing applications for stay of proceedings and joinder filed by some politicians and party members seeking to be joined in the matter.
Those affected by the ruling include Senator Ademola Adeleke, Oluwafemi Abayomi Arabambi of the Accord Party, and Sani Yakubu Noma of the ADC.
In his ruling, Justice Lifu held that granting a stay of proceedings at this stage would occasion hardship on parties, particularly as political activities ahead of upcoming elections were already ongoing.
He noted that the Supreme Court had consistently cautioned lower courts against granting undue stay of proceedings, adding that the applicants had already approached the Court of Appeal.
“It is my considered view not to grant the stay except otherwise decided by the upper court,” the judge said, holding that the applications lacked merit.
On joinder, the court ruled that most of the political parties seeking inclusion were already defendants in the suit, rendering individual applications unnecessary. The judge consequently dismissed the joinder applications filed by the 8th to 11th defendants.
The court also considered arguments by counsel to the Action Peoples Party (APP), Peter Abang, who sought outright dismissal of the suit on the grounds that similar issues were already before the appellate court.
Justice Lifu, however, held that the trial court would take into account the decision of the Court of Appeal alongside other arguments before delivering judgment.
At the resumed hearing, counsel to the plaintiff, Yakubu Abdullahi Ruba (SAN), representing the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators, urged the court to order the deregistration of the affected parties.
Ruba argued that the political parties failed to meet constitutional requirements relating to electoral performance and spread, insisting that Supreme Court authorities required parties to demonstrate a minimum threshold of electoral support to remain registered.
He maintained that none of the defendants successfully rebutted the claims.
Counsel to the Attorney-General of the Federation also aligned with constitutional compliance arguments, urging the court to determine whether the listed parties had breached relevant provisions of the Constitution.
However, counsel to the 3rd to 7th defendants urged the court to dismiss the suit with substantial costs, describing it as unmeritorious.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026, was instituted by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and several political parties.
At the previous sitting, senior advocates including Musibau Adetunbi (SAN) for the ADC and Shuaib Enejo Aruwa (SAN) for the Accord Party had urged the court to suspend proceedings pending the determination of interlocutory appeals at the Court of Appeal, arguing that continuing the trial could prejudice issues already before the appellate court.
The plaintiff, however, opposed the application, insisting that no restraining order existed from either the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court.
After taking arguments and adopting final written addresses, Justice Lifu adjourned the matter to June 5, 2026, for judgment.
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