On the Suit Seeking Deregistration of ADC and Four Others
I read the report and wondered how a group of persons who parade themselves as former lawmakers can be ignorant of the clear constitutional provisions on the deregistration of political parties.
First, the law sets preconditions on electoral performance for political parties. Failure to meet any one of the preconditions automatically places a party in a position to be deregistered.
The conditions are as follows:
1. To win at least a position in the last Presidential, Governorship, Senatorial, House of Representatives or House of Assembly election; or
2. To score a minimum of 25 percent in any state of the Federation in a presidential election; or
3. To score a minimum of 25 percent in any local government area in a governorship election; or
4. To win a chairmanship seat or councillorship seat in a local government or area council election in a state or the Federal Capital Territory; or
5. To score at least 25 percent in a local government or area council during a local government or area council election in any of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory; or
6. To win a Ward in a local government or area council during a local government or area council election in any of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Let me emphasize that the law requires compliance with any one of these preconditions. Kindly see section 225A of the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).
A look at the parties in question, African Democratic Congress (ADC), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Accord Party (AP), Action Alliance (AA), and Action Peoples Party (APP), shows that the litigants obviously failed to do their due diligence or they are mischievous.
Firstly, ADC secured two seats in the House of Representatives at the 2023 National Assembly election. ZLP secured all chairmanship and councillorship seats in Abia State at the 2024 local government election. Accord Party in Imo State, through Ichie Vitalis Azodo, secured a seat at the 2023 House of Assembly election. In Jigawa State, APP won the councillorship seat of Buntusu Ward in the Gwiwa Local Government Area at the 2024 Council election. It is only AA whose compliance status I cannot confidently confirm; unfortunately, the chairmanship election they won in Rivers State in October 2023 was nullified by the Supreme Court ruling in 2025.
From the above, it is clear that the suit by the self styled former legislators is frivolous, reckless and attention seeking. I hope that the presiding judge will impose a heavy fine on them should the case be dismissed for lack of merit, which I am optimistic about.
The action by these former legislators also leaves a bad taste in our democracy. While a democratic society like ours should naturally encourage a multiparty system, these former legislators are trying to close the space. It is no wonder they were rejected by their constituents and have now become former lawmakers.
May I state that I am not a member of any of the parties mentioned. My position is borne out of the dire need to protect Nigeria’s democracy and ensure a sustainable multiparty system so that the electorate has the opportunity to decide their leaders for themselves.
'Tonye Barcanista
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