New details have emerged in the ongoing legal battle threatening the existence of five opposition parties in Nigeria, as Justice Peter Lifu – a judge known for controversial rulings – has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party, and three others.

The ruling, delivered on Monday, June 15, 2026, at the Federal High Court in Abuja, has sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s political landscape, with opposition parties accusing the judge of judicial overreach and disregarding a subsisting Court of Appeal order.

The affected parties are:

  • African Democratic Congress (ADC)

  • Accord Party (AP)

  • Action Alliance (AA)

  • Action Peoples Party (APP)

  • Zenith Labour Party (ZLP)

Why Justice Lifu Ordered Deregistration

Justice Lifu ruled that the five parties failed to meet the constitutional requirements for continued registration under Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) .

The plaintiffs, the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators, argued that the parties:

  • Failed to secure at least 25 per cent of votes in a state during a presidential election

  • Failed to win any elective seat at the national, state, or local government level

  • Performed poorly in both the 2023 general elections and subsequent by-elections

The court also barred the parties from participating in future elections, including the 2027 general elections.

Controversy: Justice Lifu Defied Court of Appeal Order

The ruling has generated intense controversy, with the ADC accusing Justice Lifu of disregarding a subsisting order of the Court of Appeal.

According to the ADC, the Court of Appeal had issued a ruling on May 22, 2026, directing a stay of proceedings in the matter.

Despite the order being brought to his attention, Justice Lifu proceeded to deliver the ruling.

 

Also Read : Four Top Judges Behind Conflicting Orders and Frivolous Ex-parte Motions

Kalu Kalu, a lawyer and member of the ADC legal team, described the judgment as “very, very useless” and said even a law student would know that a lower court is bound by a Court of Appeal ruling.

“It was brought to his attention. He acknowledged service of the order on the court. He went ahead, disregarding the order of the court of appeal,” Kalu stated.

The ADC also announced plans to petition the National Judicial Council (NJC) over what it described as the judge’s conduct.

Justice Lifu’s History of Controversial Rulings

Justice Peter Lifu is no stranger to controversy. He has previously delivered several high-profile rulings that have sparked public outcry and legal debates.

In 2023, he made headlines for ordering the arrest of the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, over allegations of forgery. The ruling was later overturned on appeal.

In another case, he issued a restraining order against the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) regarding the conduct of its national convention, a decision that was widely criticized by legal experts.

Now, with this latest ruling, Justice Lifu has once again found himself at the center of a political firestorm.

ADC Fires Back: ‘You’re Playing With Fire’

The African Democratic Congress has strongly rejected the judgment and warned the Federal Government and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) that they were “playing with fire” by backing efforts to deregister the party through the courts

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said the matter had gone beyond its registration status and now raised broader questions about whether Nigerians would have a genuine opposition choice on the ballot in 2027.

“We wish to warn, in the strongest possible terms, against any attempt to use the judiciary as an instrument to undermine democracy and plunge Nigeria into a major political crisis,” Abdullahi said.

The ADC also noted that INEC itself had informed the court that there was no legal basis for its deregistration.

“The facts are straightforward. The plaintiffs had argued that the ADC and four other political parties failed to satisfy constitutional requirements relating to continued registration. However, in its counter-affidavit filed before the court in May, INEC categorically maintained that the ADC had not violated any registration requirements,” the party stated.

ADC Questions Plaintiff’s Legal Standing

The ADC legal team also raised questions about the plaintiff’s legal standing.

According to Kalu Kalu, the case was initially filed in December 2025 in the name of the National Forum of Former Legislators, which he described as a “non-juristic personality” .

He alleged that the plaintiff later amended the process and added “Incorporated Trustees” to its name without a court order, and also added other parties to the suit without proper procedure.

Political Implications: Atiku’s 2027 Bid at Risk

The deregistration order threatens the presidential ambitions of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who recently adopted the ADC as his platform for the 2027 presidential election.

Atiku’s running mate on the ADC ticket is former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

If the deregistration stands, the ADC would be barred from participating in the 2027 elections, effectively ending Atiku’s presidential bid on that platform.

The ADC has vowed to challenge the judgment through the appellate courts.

“We reject any and all attempts to intimidate, suppress, deregister, or politically extinguish our party and other opposition parties through means that offend both the spirit and the letter of the Constitution,” the party stated.

INEC’s Position: No Basis for Deregistration

In a surprising twist, INEC itself reportedly told the court that there was no legal basis for the deregistration of the ADC.

According to the ADC, INEC filed a counter-affidavit in May 2026, stating that the party had not violated any registration requirements.

This raises serious questions about the basis of Justice Lifu’s ruling and whether he acted within his judicial powers.

What This Means for Nigeria’s Political Landscape

The ruling comes as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, with opposition parties scrambling to present a united front against the ruling APC.

Political analysts say the judgment is unlikely to have an immediate effect on the affected parties, given Nigeria’s legal system and the option to challenge court decisions at the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.

However, the controversy surrounding Justice Lifu’s ruling – including allegations that he defied a Court of Appeal order – has raised serious questions about judicial independence and the integrity of the electoral process.

Ejes Gist News Verdict

Justice Peter Lifu has once again found himself at the center of controversy, this time with an order to deregister five opposition parties – including the ADC, which is Atiku Abubakar’s platform for 2027.

The ADC has accused the judge of disregarding a Court of Appeal order, while INEC itself reportedly told the court there was no basis for deregistration.

The ruling could reshape Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of 2027, but the ADC has vowed to fight it at the appellate courts.

The big question: Will the Court of Appeal overturn this controversial ruling? And will Atiku’s 2027 presidential bid survive this legal blow?

What do you think?
Is this a legitimate court ruling or a politically motivated attack on the opposition? Drop your opinion in the comments below. Let’s gist!