APP National Leader, Rep. Ikenga Ugochinyere, has strongly condemned the Federal High Court judgment ordering the deregistration of five political parties, describing the decision as a threat to Nigeria’s democracy
The National Leader of the Action Peoples Party (APP) and member representing Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency of Imo State, Rep. Ikenga Ugochinyere, has strongly condemned the Federal High Court judgment ordering the deregistration of five political parties, describing the decision as a threat to Nigeria’s democracy and an invitation to political instability.
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja had ordered the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), Accord Party and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), citing their alleged failure to satisfy constitutional requirements for continued registration.
The judgment followed a suit filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators, which sought an order compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove the parties from its register.
Reacting to the ruling in Abuja, Rep. Ugochinyere insisted that the decision had already been overtaken by superior court judgments and could not stand in law.
He warned that allowing the judgment to take effect would undermine democratic participation and set a dangerous precedent capable of destabilising Nigeria’s political system.
“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.
The lawmaker maintained that APP and the other affected parties remain legally recognised political parties and would continue to participate in future elections.
According to him, several judicial pronouncements, including judgments of the Federal High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, have already interpreted Section 225A of the Constitution to mean that political parties that have secured electoral victories cannot be deregistered.
He argued that parties which have won councillorship, chairmanship, state assembly, House of Representatives or other elective offices have satisfied the constitutional conditions for continued registration.
Ugochinyere further alleged that Justice Lifu ignored both existing judicial precedents and submissions made by INEC during the proceedings.
According to him, INEC informed the court that the ADC won two House of Representatives seats in Kogi State during the 2023 general election, while the APP secured a local government chairmanship seat in Jigawa State. He also claimed that the Accord Party won a seat in the Imo State House of Assembly, alongside other electoral victories recorded by the affected parties.
“INEC itself told the court that these parties met the constitutional requirements. Yet the judgment proceeded regardless. That is why many Nigerians are worried about the implications for democracy and the rule of law,” he stated.
The APP leader also alleged that the court delivered its judgment despite an existing Court of Appeal order staying further proceedings pending the determination of an appeal related to the matter.
He claimed lawyers received short notice of the judgment despite the subsisting appellate court order.
Describing the development as unprecedented, Rep. Ugochinyere called on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to convene an emergency meeting to investigate the circumstances surrounding the judgment and impose sanctions if judicial misconduct is established.
He also urged the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to intervene in defence of the judiciary’s integrity, warning that public confidence in the justice system could be eroded if allegations of disregard for superior court decisions are 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.
Ugochinyere insisted that neither the APP nor the other affected parties would suspend their political activities because of the judgment, adding that they would continue preparations for future elections while pursuing legal remedies.
He further cautioned against efforts to narrow Nigeria’s political space ahead of the 2027 general election, stressing that voters should be allowed a broad range of political choices.
“Let all political parties participate and let Nigerians decide who they want. Democracy is about participation and competition, not exclusion,” he said.
The lawmaker added that Nigeria’s democratic journey was built on years of struggle against authoritarian rule and warned against actions capable of reviving political crises that once threatened national stability.
He appealed to judicial authorities, legal practitioners and other democratic stakeholders to take urgent steps to protect the integrity of the electoral process and preserve public confidence in the country’s democratic institutions.
