Opposition leaders and political stakeholders have condemned a Federal High Court judgment ordering the deregistration of five political parties, with Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke describing the ruling as a violation of a subsisting Court of Appeal order and an abuse of judicial process.
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja had directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party, Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), following a suit filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators.
The court held that the affected parties failed to meet constitutional and electoral requirements necessary to retain their registration status, a decision that has sparked widespread criticism from opposition figures who argue that the matter remains subject to appellate proceedings.
Reacting on Monday, Adeleke said the judgment was delivered despite an existing order of the Court of Appeal staying further proceedings in the case.
In a statement issued through his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the governor maintained that the appellate court had already ruled that the delivery of judgment constituted part of court proceedings, making any further action by the lower court subject to its directive.
According to him, records presented before the Federal High Court showed that the Court of Appeal, during proceedings on May 22, 2026, expressly stated that “the delivery of judgment is still part of the proceedings of the court.”
Adeleke insisted that the ruling would be challenged and urged supporters of the Accord Party to remain calm ahead of the August 15 governorship election in Osun State.
“I call on Osun people to remain calm and be assured that our rights will be affirmed and our party, the Accord, will be on the ballot on August 15. We will not only be on the ballot, we will win overwhelmingly in the forthcoming governorship election,” he said.
The governor also dismissed concerns that the judgment could disrupt his political activities, insisting that the party’s governorship campaign flag-off would proceed as planned.
The ruling has also drawn strong reactions from leaders of the affected parties.
Paul Ibe, spokesperson to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, the ADC presidential candidate, described the judgment as “judicial rascality” and alleged that it formed part of a broader attempt to weaken opposition politics ahead of the 2027 elections.
He argued that the trial court ought not to have proceeded with the matter while an appeal remained pending before the Court of Appeal, accusing the ruling party of attempting to narrow Nigeria’s democratic space.
ADC National Chairman and former Senate President David Mark similarly rejected the judgment, describing it as “an arrow fired at the heart of Nigeria’s democracy.”
Addressing party supporters in Abuja, Mark expressed confidence that the decision would be overturned on appeal.
“The judgment cannot stand. It will be set aside because it does not pass the test of law and due process,” he said.
He assured party members that the ADC would remain a participant in the 2027 elections, insisting that the party would secure judicial redress.
The controversy also attracted criticism from African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, who condemned the deregistration of parties already preparing for elections.
“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,” he wrote on social media.
The judgment is expected to trigger further legal battles as affected parties seek appellate intervention, with broader concerns emerging over its implications for Nigeria’s multi-party democracy and preparations for the 2027 general elections.