2027: Court Rejects Ex-Senator’s Bid to Join Suit on ADC Deregistration

2027: Court Rejects Ex-Senator’s Bid to Join Suit on ADC Deregistration

A Federal High Court in Abuja has declined an application by a former senator, Clever Marcus Ikisikpo, seeking to join an ongoing suit aimed at stopping the African Democratic Congress from participating in the 2027 general elections.

Presiding over the matter, Justice Peter Lifu ruled against the request after the applicant failed to establish his eligibility to be part of the case instituted by a group of former lawmakers.

Ikisikpo, through his counsel, had filed a motion asking the court to admit him as a co-plaintiff in the suit, which is also seeking to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission to deregister the ADC and other political parties over alleged constitutional violations.

However, counsel to the original plaintiffs opposed the move, arguing that the former senator was not a member of their association and that his application lacked merit.

During proceedings, the court directed Ikisikpo’s lawyer to provide evidence of his client’s membership of the group behind the suit. The request could not be substantiated.

Justice Lifu held that being a former legislator did not automatically confer membership of the association, prompting the applicant’s counsel to withdraw the motion. The court subsequently struck out the application.

The substantive suit, filed by a forum of ex-lawmakers, is also targeting other parties, including the Accord Party, Zenith Labour Party, and Action Alliance.

The plaintiffs argue that the electoral body is constitutionally empowered to deregister parties that fail to meet required performance benchmarks, such as securing a minimum percentage of votes in elections or winning elective positions.

They are asking the court to compel INEC to enforce these provisions and restrain it from recognising the affected parties pending compliance.

The case has been adjourned until April 17, 2026, for further hearing.