INEC Rejects Deregistration of African Democratic Congress

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has filed a court document opposing the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), asserting that the legal grounds for this action have not been satisfied. INEC contends that it cannot arbitrarily deregister political parties and that the ADC has not breached any electoral performance thresholds required for registration.

Legal analysts suggest that INEC's position significantly weakens any case for deregistration, given its central role in regulating political parties in Nigeria. Phrank Shaibu, Senior Special Assistant to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, described the attempt to deregister the ADC as politically motivated and an effort to undermine opposition voices.

He emphasized that such actions threaten political competition and democracy in Nigeria. No official reaction from INEC or the ADC was available at the time of this report.