By CHARLES CHIJIOKE
The Accord has pushed back against a legal attempt to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove it from the register of political parties, arguing there is no constitutional basis for such action given its current electoral standing.
The challenge was initiated by the National Forum of Former Legislators, which is seeking a court order directing INEC to deregister several parties, including Accord, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), over alleged failure to meet constitutional performance benchmarks.
The plaintiffs contend that INEC has “no residual discretion to retain the registration of political parties that have clearly failed to satisfy the minimum threshold prescribed under Section 225A of the Constitution,” arguing that underperforming parties inflate ballot papers, increase public expenditure, and complicate election management.
However, in a statement issued on Monday, Accord’s spokesperson, Joseph Omorogbe, dismissed the claims, stating that there is no justification to “contemplate the de-registration of Accord.”
“It is evident that our great party, Accord, met this clear provision of the constitution, thus exempted and excluded from de-registration by the electoral umpire,” the statement reads.
Omorogbe further maintained that the party currently holds multiple elective positions across the country, including a sitting governor, lawmakers at both federal and state levels, as well as councillors a status he says places the party firmly within constitutional requirements.
Among those cited is Ademola Adeleke, whom the party lists as one of its elected officials, alongside a senator, six members of the House of Representatives, 24 state assembly members, and two councillors in Jigawa state.
The spokesperson added that Nigerians “have been trooping into Accord as the most peaceful, stable, and viable platform to rescue and salvage Nigeria from a myriad of challenges confronting the country.”
Under Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), INEC is empowered to deregister political parties that breach registration conditions or fail to meet electoral thresholds, including securing at least 25 percent of votes in a state during presidential elections or winning seats in legislative contests.
The unfolding legal dispute highlights a broader debate over party proliferation in Nigeria’s political system. If the court rules in favour of the plaintiffs, several smaller parties could face dissolution, potentially narrowing the political space ahead of future elections.
Conversely, a ruling backing Accord and others may reinforce the continued existence of multiple parties, sustaining a diverse but often fragmented political landscape.
