Political Storm: ADC's 2027 Election Future Ignites Controversy Amid Deregistration Fears
Opposition figures, including Paul Ibe and Senator David Mark, have vehemently condemned a Federal High Court judgment ordering the deregistration of the ADC and four other parties. They allege political motivation and a disregard for a subsisting Court of Appeal order, vowing to challenge the ruling ahead of the 2027 elections.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s bid for the presidency in the 2027 general election took a major hit after the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the deregistration of five political parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the party he recently adopted to run for president again.
Delivering judgement on Monday, Justice Peter Lifu directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the ADC alongside four other political parties for failing to meet constitutional requirements for continued registration.
The other affected parties are the Accord Party (AP), Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
The ruling followed a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026 filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators, which argued that the ADC and the four other parties had persistently failed to satisfy the performance thresholds stipulated under Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution to retain their registrations.
Paul Ibe, media adviser to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who had secured the ADC's presidential ticket for a potential broad opposition coalition in 2027, strongly condemned the judgment.
Ibe, in a statement on his verified Facebook page, characterized the ruling as a "deliberate attempt" by President Bola Tinubu’s administration to weaken the opposition and establish a de facto one-party state.
He further labeled the decision as "the height of judicial rascality," alleging it was part of a desperate effort by the ruling party to manipulate the political environment.
A central point of contention for Ibe was his assertion that Justice Lifu ought not to have proceeded with the matter.
According to him, the Court of Appeal had previously issued an order directing a stay of further proceedings pending the determination of an appeal.
Ibe cited a specific order dated May 22, 2026, from a three-member panel of appellate court Justices — Mohammed A. Danjuma, Adebunkunola A. Banjoko, and Oyejoju O. Oyewumi — in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/CV/569/2026 and suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2025.
The hearing for this appeal was reportedly scheduled for October 27, 2026.
Concurrently, Senator David Mark, the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), also vehemently rejected the judgment.
In a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, after meeting with a delegation of ADC candidates, Mark described the ruling as "an arrow fired at theheart of Nigeria’s democracy" and vowed that it "will not stand."
He urged party members, supporters, and candidates to remain calm and steadfast, assuring them that the party remains confident the ruling would be overturned through the judicial process.
Senator Mark echoed Ibe's concerns about the validity of the judgment given the subsisting appellate court order for a stay of proceedings, emphasizing that the decision "does not pass the test of law and due process."
The Federal High Court's decision was prompted by a suit filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators.
This group argued that the affected political parties had failed to satisfy the constitutional performance thresholds required for continued operation, as stipulated under Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution and relevant provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.
However, both Paul Ibe and Senator David Mark highlighted the significant implications of this judgment for opposition politics, especially given Atiku Abubakar's previous acquisition of the ADC's presidential ticket as a potential platform for a broad opposition coalition in the upcoming 2027 elections.
Despite the setback, the ADC leadership has affirmed its unwavering commitment to strengthening democratic institutions and presenting a credible political alternative.
Senator Mark assured all party faithful that this "temporary setback" would be overcome and reiterated that the ADC "will be on the ballot in 2027," signaling their intent to challenge the judgment at higher courts and remain resolute in upholding the rule of law.