The National Leader of the Action Peoples Party (APP) and member representing the Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency of Imo State, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, has condemned the Federal High Court judgement ordering the deregistration of five political parties, describing the decision as a threat to democracy and an invitation to political instability.
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had ordered the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), Accord Party and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), following a suit filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators seeking their removal from the register of political parties maintained by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Reacting to the judgement in Abuja on Monday, Ugochinyere argued that the ruling was inconsistent with previous judicial pronouncements and could undermine the country’s democratic foundations if allowed to stand.
“Our nation cannot be allowed to degenerate to that level. This judgement is an invitation to anarchy. Political parties cannot simply be wiped out in a democracy because that is not what democracy represents,” he said.
The federal lawmaker insisted that the APP and the other affected parties remained legally recognised entities and would continue to participate in political activities and future elections despite the court’s decision.
According to him, multiple judgements of the Federal High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court had already interpreted Section 225A of the Constitution and established that parties with electoral victories could not be deregistered.
He maintained that the affected parties had met constitutional requirements through victories secured at different levels of government, including local government, state assembly and federal legislative elections.
“INEC itself told the court that these parties met the constitutional requirements. Yet the judgement proceeded regardless. That is why many Nigerians are worried about the implications for democracy and the rule of law,” Ugochinyere stated.
The lawmaker claimed that INEC informed the court that ADC won two House of Representatives seats in Kogi State during the 2023 elections, APP secured a local government chairmanship seat in Jigawa State, and Accord Party won a seat in the Imo State House of Assembly.
He further alleged that the trial court delivered its judgement despite the existence of a Court of Appeal order staying proceedings pending the determination of an appeal connected to the matter, a development he described as troubling.
Ugochinyere called on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to convene an emergency meeting to investigate the circumstances surrounding the judgement and take disciplinary action where necessary.
He also urged the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to defend the integrity of the judiciary and the rule of law.
“The judiciary remains the last hope of the common man. If judgements of superior courts can be ignored, then we are endangering one of the most important institutions of our democracy,” he said, warning against attempts to narrow Nigeria’s democratic space ahead of the 2027 general election and insisting that citizens must be allowed a broad range of political choices.
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