RismadarVoice Reporters, May 6, 2026
A new twist has emerged in the legal battle over the status of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has opposed moves seeking the party’s deregistration.
Court filings seen by journalists show that INEC rejected the application, arguing that it does not meet the constitutional and legal requirements for deregistering a political party.
“The power to deregister political parties is neither discretionary nor subject to political pressure, but strictly governed by extant laws and constitutional provisions,” the commission stated.
INEC maintained that none of the legally recognised conditions for deregistration—such as poor electoral performance or violations of registration requirements—had been established against the ADC.
The suit, backed by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), is seeking the deregistration of ADC alongside Accord Party, Action People’s Party, Action Alliance, and Zenith Labour Party. The AGF argued that non-performing parties overcrowd ballots and strain public resources, citing Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution.
However, legal analysts say INEC’s position could significantly weaken the case, given its statutory role as the regulator of political parties.
Reacting, Phrank Shaibu, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, described the move as politically motivated.
“What we are witnessing is the unravelling of a poorly scripted political ambush designed to cripple opposition voices,” he said, adding that INEC’s submission reinforces concerns about the case.
He warned against actions that could undermine political competition, stressing that democratic space must remain open and inclusive.
The matter is still pending before the court, with no official response yet from the ADC as of the time of filing this report.
