Lawmaker warns against alleged move to deregister ADC, Accord, others

A member of the House of Representatives representing Ideato North and South Federal Constituency of Imo State, Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, has raised the alarm over an alleged move to deregister opposition political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja, Ugochinyere accused unnamed political actors of plotting, through the courts, to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party, Action Peoples Party (APP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and others.
He described the alleged plan as “dangerous” capable of plunging the country into a constitutional crisis and undermining democratic stability.
Ugochinyere alleged that the reported attempt to deregister opposition parties was aimed at excluding candidates from participating in the 2027 elections, including some prominent political office holders.
He warned that any move to remove political parties from the ballot through judicial processes would amount to “an invitation to anarchy” and could trigger widespread political unrest.
Citing Section 225A of the Constitution, the lawmaker argued that parties which have secured elective positions cannot be deregistered, insisting that ADC, Accord and APP had already met the legal threshold.
He also referenced previous court decisions which, according to him, upheld the rights of qualified political parties to remain in existence.
Ugochinyere urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to appeal a recent Federal High Court judgment on the electoral timetable, saying doing so would create uncertainty and erode public confidence in the electoral process.

He called on President Bola Tinubu, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the National Judicial Council and security agencies to safeguard democratic institutions and resist any attempt to manipulate the political space.

المصدر: Daily Trust (NG)