A Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled judgment for June 5 on a suit seeking the deregistration of some political parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC), over alleged constitutional breaches.
Justice Peter Lifu selected the date on Wednesday after lawyers to parties made their final submissions and adopted their final written addresses.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026, filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators has the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and several political parties, including the ADC, Action Alliance, Accord Party and Zenith Labour Party as defendants.
In his final submission, plaintiff’s lawyer, Yakubu Abdullahi Ruba (SAN) argued that the affected political parties failed to satisfy constitutional requirements relating to electoral spread and performance.
Ruba, who cited past Supreme Court to support his position, contended that political parties are required to secure at least 25 percent of votes in prescribed elections to retain relevance under the law.
He urged the court to order the deregistration of the parties, insisting that none of the defendants had successfully countered the argument.
AGF’s lawyer, A. Abdulrahman said the AGF has constitutional powers to defend and support actions aimed at ensuring compliance with the Constitution.
Abdulrahman urged the court to determine whether the political parties listed as third to seventh defendants in the suit have breached constitutional provisions.
Lawyers to the political parties, being sought to be deregistered, prayed the court to dismiss the suit with substantial cost .
In earlier rulings on Wednesday, Justice Lifu dismissed applications for stay of proceedings and others filed by some politicians and political parties,who sought to be made parties in the suit.
Those whose applications were dismissed include Osun State’s governor, Ademola Adeleke and Oluwafemi Abayomi Adebambi (both of the Accord party), and Hon. Sani Yakubu Noma of the ADC.
In dismissing the applications for joinder, the judge held that most of the political parties seeking to be made parties in the case are members of the political parties, who are already listed as defendants in the suit, making the inclusion of individual members of the same political parties unnecessary.
Justice Lifu also heard arguments on an application filed by the Action Peoples Party (APP), whose lawyer, Peter Abang, prayed the court to dismiss the suit on the grounds that issues raised in it had already been argued before the Court of Appeal.
Ruling, Justice Lifu said he would consider the decision of the Court of Appeal as it relates to the present case before his court along with issues raised by other parties before delivering the final judgment.
The post “June 5 Judgment Date” — Court To Decide Suit Seeking Deregistration Of ADC, Other Parties Over Alleged Constitutional Breaches appeared first on TheNigeriaLawyer.
