Lauretta Onochie Urges Supporters to Remain Calm as Court Deregister ADC

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties over alleged failure to meet constitutional requirements for continued recognition as political parties.

Justice Peter Lifu, in a judgment delivered on Monday, directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove the affected parties from the register of political parties, ruling that they failed to secure the required electoral performance threshold.

The affected parties are the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord, Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

The court also ordered that INEC should not permit the parties to participate in future elections, including the 2027 general elections, following claims that they did not meet the constitutional conditions for survival.

The suit was filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators against the five political parties, with the Attorney-General of the Federation and INEC listed as defendants.

The plaintiff argued that the parties failed to achieve the required electoral spread and performance stipulated by law, insisting that deregistration was necessary to enforce constitutional provisions.

However, reacting to the judgment, former aide to President Muhammadu Buhari, Lauretta Onochie, moved to reassure ADC supporters, urging them not to panic over the court decision.

In a statement shared on her X handle, Onochie said: “STAY CALM, WE ARE ADC,” claiming that the legal action was connected to concerns over the emergence of an Atiku Abubakar and Rotimi Amaechi alliance ahead of the 2027 election.

She argued that Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), alongside the Electoral Act 2022 and INEC regulations, provides that a political party can remain registered if it either secures at least 25 per cent of votes in a state during a presidential election or wins at least one elective position at national, state, or local government level.

Onochie maintained that ADC has elected representatives and therefore meets the legal requirements to remain a registered political party.

She further criticised the judgment, alleging that some judicial decisions could be influenced by external interests, while calling on the Nigerian Bar Association to take interest in cases involving alleged breaches of constitutional provisions.

“We are ADC. God bless Nigeria,” she wrote, encouraging party supporters to remain confident despite the court ruling.