Court filings obtained by Punch indicate that INEC rejected the application before the court, arguing that it does not satisfy the constitutional and legal conditions required for deregistering a political party.

The electoral body maintained that the authority to deregister political parties is strictly defined by law and cannot be applied arbitrarily or influenced by political considerations.

According to INEC, none of the constitutionally approved grounds for deregistration—such as failure to meet electoral performance benchmarks or violation of registration rules—had been established against the ADC.

The commission stated, “The power to deregister political parties is neither discretionary nor subject to political pressure, but strictly governed by extant laws and constitutional provisions.”

The filing has been viewed in some political and legal circles as a form of institutional resistance to what is perceived as attempts to manipulate the judiciary for partisan interests.

The suit in question seeks the deregistration of the ADC, Accord Party, Action People’s Party, Action Alliance, and Zenith Labour Party.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), is backing the case, arguing that inactive political parties overcrowd the electoral system and waste public resources, while urging enforcement of Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution.

Reacting, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Phrank Shaibu, described the move as politically driven.

Shaibu said, “What we are witnessing is the unravelling of a poorly scripted political ambush designed to cripple opposition voices.”

He added that INEC’s stance confirms suspicions that the case lacks genuine legal grounding.

“The fact that INEC itself has come forward to puncture the legal vacuum of this application speaks volumes. It confirms what Nigerians already suspect, that this was never about law, but about intimidation,” he said.

Shaibu further cautioned against efforts to weaken political competition, stressing that democratic systems thrive on inclusion, not exclusion.

He said, “No democracy survives where the ruling party seeks to eliminate competition through the back door. Nigeria is bigger than any administration, and its democratic space cannot be shrunk to accommodate political insecurity.”

Allies of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar said on Monday that the broader opposition coalition’s plan to present a unified presidential candidate against President Bola Tinubu remains unchanged, despite recent shifts in political alignments.

They also dismissed suggestions that the departure of Obi and Kwankwaso from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) would significantly weaken the opposition’s prospects in 2027.

Atiku, who left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the eve of his 79th birthday in 2025, had joined the ADC as part of a wider strategy to consolidate opposition forces.

Obi and Kwankwaso, who were presidential candidates of the Labour Party (LP) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) respectively in 2023, later aligned with him in the ADC in 2026.

However, both politicians have since exited the party for the NDC, following internal disputes and political tensions within the ADC.

Speaking anonymously, an associate of Atiku said it was premature to debate whether the former vice president would serve only a single term if he eventually secures the coalition ticket.

According to the source, “It would be better for him to get the ticket first before any discussion about a single four-year term. This is too early.”

Another senior figure within Atiku’s camp also dismissed the single-term debate, describing it as unnecessary and a distraction.

The source added that Atiku’s current priority is strengthening the ADC rather than focusing on personal ambition.

“This is like putting the cart before the horse. Atiku is focused on building and strengthening the ADC. Without a strong party, no individual ambition can survive. Discussions about a single-term presidency are distractions,” the source said.

ADC Still Expanding Despite Defections

The Atiku ally further described the ADC as a “moving train,” insisting that the exits of Obi and Kwankwaso would not stop others from joining the platform.

The source explained, “The party must first grow and become strong. It is like a train—some passengers will alight while others will board. Obi and Kwankwaso have stepped off, but that has not stopped others from coming in. The goal remains the 2027 election.”

“They were not forced out; they left on their own accord,” the source added.

He maintained that the coalition effort aimed at challenging President Tinubu in 2027 is still very much active.

“For us, nothing has changed. The coalition project is still alive and relevant,” he said.