The Obidient Movement condemned a Federal High Court order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission to deregister five political parties [1].
The ruling targets the African Democratic Congress and four other organizations [2]. This move is significant because it reduces the number of legal political vehicles available for opposition and minority voices in Nigeria's electoral landscape.
The court order was issued at the Federal High Court in Abuja on June 19, 2024 [1]. The Obidient Movement, a political activist group, issued a statement opposing the decision to scrap the parties [1].
"This ruling is a direct attack on political inclusion and democratic participation in Nigeria," a spokesperson for the Obidient Movement said [1].
The group argued that the removal of these entities limits the ability of citizens to engage with a variety of political platforms. By reducing the number of registered parties, the movement suggests the ruling narrows the scope of political competition.
"Deregistering five parties undermines the pluralistic nature of our democracy," the spokesperson said [2].
The decision requires the Independent National Electoral Commission to remove the five [1] organizations from its official register. This administrative action effectively bars those parties from fielding candidates in future elections unless the ruling is overturned, or the parties are re-registered.
“"This ruling is a direct attack on political inclusion and democratic participation in Nigeria."”
The deregistration of multiple political parties by judicial order reflects a tightening of the regulatory environment for political organizations in Nigeria. If the African Democratic Congress and other parties are removed from the register, it may consolidate power within larger, established parties and limit the entry points for third-party challengers and grassroots movements.
