Nigeria's ADC Court Victory Restores Party Registration Ahead of 2027 Elections

African Democratic Congress Court of Appeal deregistration 2027 elections Nasir el‑Rufai

Nigeria's Court of Appeal in Abuja nullified a Federal High Court ruling that had ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other parties. The appellate panel said the lower court lacked jurisdiction because the plaintiff, the National Forum of Former Legislators, was not a juristic person, and it rebuked Justice Peter Lufu for ignoring a stay order.

The decision cleared legal obstacles for the ADC, Action Alliance, Action Peoples Party, Accord Party and Zenith Labour Party, allowing them to contest the 2027 general elections. ADC leaders hailed the judgment as a triumph for multiparty democracy; Senator David Mark called the attempted deregistration “an assault on democracy.”

Following the ruling, the ADC filed a petition with the National Judicial Council seeking disciplinary action against Justice Lufu, accusing him of judicial overreach.

Separately, ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi warned that President Bola Tinubu would be held responsible if former Kaduna Governor Nasir el‑Rufai suffers while in detention, describing the prolonged custody as politically motivated. El‑Rufai faces separate DSS and ICPC charges, with a recent bail application rejected.

The party also urged Tinubu to concentrate on combating bandits and kidnappers rather than targeting opposition and faced criticism from the Edo South Unity Forum for publicly alleging financial misconduct by an ADC local official.

Entities: African Democratic Congress · African Democratic Congress (ADC) · Bola Tinubu · Bolaji Abdullahi · Court of Appeal, Abuja · Justice Peter Lufu · Nasir El‑Rufai · Senator David Mark

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[○ 1 SOURCE] The appellate court held the lower court lacked jurisdiction because the plaintiff was not a juristic person. (f24e0f08-8ca8-4a07-8ba8-868c451bdf89)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Nasir el‑Rufai is facing DSS and ICPC charges, with a recent bail application rejected. (8c0e9060-ad99-4fab-bd6f-3939358b13e3)
[● 2 SOURCES] The Edo South Unity Forum criticized the ADC for publicly accusing its local secretary Osazuwa Ogiemwonyi of financial misconduct without due process. (e413dbee-1ee5-4660-b8fe-d458f70da0d5,1a1cb29d-e501-439c-87a3-451abd95be73)
[○ 1 SOURCE] The ADC petitioned the National Judicial Council to discipline Justice Peter Lufu. (517da17b-aa19-4521-a420-33b4eb4140b7)
[○ 1 SOURCE] The ADC urged President Tinubu to focus on fighting bandits and kidnappers instead of political opposition. (d60487e8-9c51-4dcf-a58d-423cbaf4db07)
[○ 1 SOURCE] The Court of Appeal criticized Justice Peter Lufu for ignoring a stay order and delivering a judgment. (f24e0f08-8ca8-4a07-8ba8-868c451bdf89)
[● 2 SOURCES] The Court of Appeal in Abuja voided the Federal High Court judgment ordering deregistration of the ADC and four other parties. (f24e0f08-8ca8-4a07-8ba8-868c451bdf89,5eb1f78e-a7d5-44c3-86cb-bb91e2268441)
[● 4 SOURCES] ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi warned President Bola Tinubu would be held responsible if former Governor Nasir el‑Rufai suffers while detained. (8c0e9060-ad99-4fab-bd6f-3939358b13e3,6a893e14-374c-41b0-8674-f47ad6f5c438,07cfea14-d114-4da0-81a7-1697e471a9f2,7a1ba5b8-)