Sowore fumes over  Court order scrapping Atiku’s  ADC, four Other Parties

African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has criticised a Federal High Court judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties from the register of recognised parties.

The activist and former presidential contender described the decision as a setback for democratic pluralism, arguing that it runs contrary to the ideals of a multi-party political system.

Reacting on Monday through a post on X, Sowore expressed strong opposition to the move, particularly because the affected parties had already conducted their primaries and were preparing for future electoral contests.

“I totally condemn the deregistration of political parties that have already concluded their primaries and are preparing for general elections. Such an action is undemocratic and unjustifiable in a multi-party democracy, it shall not stand,” he wrote.

His comments came shortly after Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered INEC to deregister five political parties over what the court found to be non-compliance with constitutional provisions governing party registration.

The ruling affects the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

In the judgment delivered on Monday, Justice Lifu held that the parties fell short of the requirements outlined in Section 225 of the Constitution.

Under the constitutional provision, INEC has the authority to remove political parties from its register if they fail to win elective positions at the federal, state or local government levels.

The court concluded that the five parties no longer satisfied the conditions necessary to remain registered and consequently ordered the electoral commission to strike them off the list of recognised political organisations.