APP leader opposes court ruling on party deregistration, warns of democratic risks

The National Leader of the Action Peoples Party (APP) and member of the House of Representatives for Ideato North/Ideato South in Imo State, Ikenga Ugochinyere, has strongly opposed a Federal High Court decision to deregister five political parties. He said this ruling could harm Nigeria’s democracy and increase political tensions as elections approach.

Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), Accord Party, and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

The court found that these parties did not meet the constitutional requirements needed to keep their registration as political parties in Nigeria.

A report from PREMIUM TIMES stated that the case leading to the ruling was filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators, the Attorney-General of the Federation, and the affected political parties. The plaintiffs asked the court to force the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove the parties from its official register, arguing that they no longer met the legal conditions for recognition.

They based their case on Section 225(a) of the Constitution and parts of the Electoral Act. They argued that political parties that do not win elections or meet minimum performance standards in successive elections should not remain registered.

They urged the court to make INEC remove the affected parties and prevent them from taking part in future elections.

The ruling has led to strong reactions from those involved in the affected parties.

Mr Ugochinyere called the ruling “deeply troubling” and said it could create a dangerous situation for Nigeria’s multiparty democracy. Speaking in Abuja on Monday, he said if this decision is not challenged, it could reduce political participation and weaken the legal foundations of democratic competition.

He warned that excluding legally registered parties through court decisions could lead Nigeria towards political instability. “Our nation cannot be allowed to degenerate to that level. This judgment is an invitation to anarchy. Political parties cannot simply be wiped out in a democracy because that is not what democracy represents,” he said.

He added that democracy needs inclusion, competition, and voter choice. He said trying to reduce the number of political parties through what he called restrictive legal interpretation would not work.

Mr Ugochinyere insisted that APP and the other affected parties are still validly registered and will keep participating in all political activities, including upcoming elections. He mentioned that various court rulings have already clarified the meaning of Section 225(a) of the Constitution.

He pointed out that decisions from the Federal High Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court have stated that political parties that achieve even small electoral victories, like councillorship or local government chairmanship, meet the requirements for continued registration.

He argued that these past decisions were not considered in the ruling, calling it a contradiction of established legal principles. The lawmaker also claimed that INEC confirmed during the trial that some of the affected parties indeed met the constitutional requirements to remain registered.

He gave examples, saying that ADC won two House of Representatives seats in Kogi State during the 2023 elections, while APP secured a local government chairmanship in Jigawa State. He also noted that Accord Party won a seat in the Imo State House of Assembly, among other successes by affected parties nationwide.

Mr Ugochinyere maintained that these electoral victories justify the continued registration of the parties, and any different interpretation would twist the law's intent. “INEC itself told the court that these parties met the constitutional requirements. Yet the judgement proceeded regardless. That is why many Nigerians are worried about the implications for democracy and the rule of law,” he said.

He criticized the court’s decision, claiming it went ahead despite a Court of Appeal order stopping proceedings until the appeal was resolved. He said the appellate court had already stepped in, and the parties were supposed to wait for its final decision before proceeding with the trial.

He also mentioned issues with how the judgement was delivered, saying legal representatives were given little notice to appear, even with ongoing appeals. He called this situation unprecedented in Nigeria’s judicial history and urged the National Judicial Council (NJC) to step in and review the case.

He asked the council to check if due process was followed and to take action if necessary to protect the judiciary's integrity. He also called on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to defend judicial independence, warning that public trust in the justice system could be damaged if allegations of ignoring higher court orders were not addressed.

“The judiciary remains the last hope of the common man. If judgments of superior courts can be ignored, then we are endangering one of the most important institutions of our democracy,” he said.

Beyond the legal side, Mr Ugochinyere expressed wider political concerns, warning that the ruling could significantly affect Nigeria’s elections ahead of the 2027 general election. He said reducing the number of political parties would limit voter choice and weaken competition.

He pointed out that Nigeria’s democratic path has been shaped by years of fighting against authoritarian rule, and any attempt to limit political participation could bring back memories of past political crises that threatened stability.

He called for calm, discussions, and following constitutional processes to settle disputes over party registration and electoral participation. “Let all political parties participate and let Nigerians decide who they want. Democracy is about participation and competition, not exclusion,” he declared.

Mr Ugochinyere urged all relevant groups, including the judiciary, electoral bodies, legal professionals, and democratic stakeholders, to act responsibly to protect Nigeria’s democratic gains and ensure that the electoral system stays open, fair, and credible for all.