Sowore Condemns Court Order to Deregister ADC and Other Parties Ahead of 2027 Elections
Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), has denounced a recent Federal High Court judgment that instructed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties. He labeled the decision undemocratic and unjustifiable in a nation that embraces a multi‑party system.
Sowore argued that the affected parties — Action Peoples Party, Action Alliance, Accord Party and Zenith Labour Party — have repeatedly fallen short of the constitutional performance thresholds required for continued registration.
The lawsuit, filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators, asked the court to clarify whether INEC is constitutionally compelled to strip parties that fail to meet the electoral performance benchmarks set out in Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), reinforced by the Electoral Act 2022 and INEC’s own regulations.
In a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Sowore said the ruling is unacceptable, especially because the parties had already concluded their primaries and were gearing up for upcoming elections. He declared, “It shall not stand. 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.”
The ruling carries particular weight for the 2027 election cycle, as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is the ADC’s presidential nominee, while Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke seeks re‑election under the Accord Party banner.
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