INEC Under Fire to De-Register Labour Party, ADC, and Others

ABUJA — The Nigerian political landscape is bracing for a potential earthquake as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) faces mounting legal and systemic pressure to axe several prominent political parties, including the Labour Party (LP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The revelation came from Hon. Raphael Igbokwe, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators, following a high-stakes session at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

A suit is currently seeking to compel INEC to de-register a string of parties—including the ADC, Accord Party, Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), and Action Alliance (AA)—for alleged failure to meet mandatory constitutional requirements.

While the Labour Party was specifically mentioned by Igbokwe as being under the “pressure” of this regulatory scrutiny, the court is currently focused on the technicalities of who can join the suit.

According to Igbokwe, the move isn’t about political vendettas but about constitutional discipline. The core issues at stake include:

“We approached the court to seek clarification and interpretation of sections of the Constitution. Our intent is purely to enrich and expand our nation’s electoral jurisprudence,” Igbokwe told newsmen.

The Federal High Court has fixed March 24 to rule on a joinder application regarding the suit. This ruling will determine which parties and stakeholders can officially enter the legal arena to defend their existence or push for the de-registration.

If the court eventually rules in favor of the plaintiffs, INEC could be forced to significantly “trim” the number of political parties in Nigeria, potentially altering the dynamics of future elections.