A Federal High Court in Owerri has adjourned a legal challenge seeking to disqualify the Action Peoples Party (APP) from future elections, following its deregistration by Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The matter was postponed to April 16 after INEC failed to present a legal representative in court, while APP’s legal team requested additional time to file its defence.
The case, filed under Suit No: FHC/CS/03/2026 by Mr. Franklin Ngoforo, Coordinator of Civic Action for Democracy (CAC), aims to formally delist APP from the register of political parties. Ngoforo’s 21-count application argues that APP’s continued participation in electoral processes is unlawful, citing its deregistration by INEC on February 6, 2020—a decision later affirmed by the Supreme Court of Nigeria in a March 2022 judgment.
During the brief hearing, legal representatives from the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, appearing for the Federal Government, and members of various civil society organisations were present. APP’s counsel pleaded for a continuance to adequately prepare a response. With no appearance from INEC, the presiding judge granted the adjournment, giving APP’s team approximately seven weeks to submit any defence.
Commenting on the absence of INEC’s representative, constitutional lawyer Chinyere Obi noted that a defendant’s non-appearance in court often signals either a lack of viable defence or a tacit concession to the plaintiff’s claims by default. Barr. Chinedu Obasi of the Civil Liberties and Accountability Initiative described the proceedings as a watershed moment, underscoring persistent challenges with electoral integrity in Nigeria. He indicated that civil society groups would maintain pressure on INEC to enforce compliance with court rulings and electoral regulations.
The lawsuit highlights the ongoing legal and administrative fallout from INEC’s 2020 deregistration of political parties that failed to meet performance thresholds in previous elections. APP is among several parties affected by that exercise, though some have successfully challenged their deregistration in court. This case tests the enforcement of the Supreme Court’s earlier affirmation of INEC’s authority and the procedural responsiveness of both the commission and political entities.
The next court date of April 16 will be critical. APP must file a formal defence, or the court may proceed to determine the matter based on Ngoforo’s submissions. The outcome could further clarify the status of deregistered parties and INEC’s obligations in updating the electoral roll, with implications for the broader landscape of political competition in Nigeria.
