By Mercy Aikoye
Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere has condemned the Federal High Court judgment ordering the deregistration of five political parties, describing the decision as an invitation to anarchy and a serious threat to Nigeria’s democratic process.
Ugochinyere, who represents Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency and serves as the national leader of the Action Peoples Party (APP), made the remarks while addressing journalists in Abuja on Monday.
Justice Peter Lifu had ordered the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), Accord Party, and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) in a suit filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators, which argued that the parties failed to meet constitutional requirements for registration.
Reacting to the ruling, Ugochinyere insisted that democracy cannot thrive on exclusion, warning against attempts to eliminate political parties through judicial pronouncements.
“Our nation cannot be allowed to degenerate to that level. Political parties cannot simply be wiped out in a democracy,” he said.
The lawmaker argued that the judgment had already been overtaken by decisions of superior courts. He cited three Federal High Court judgments, a Court of Appeal ruling and a Supreme Court decision, which he said established that political parties with electoral victories cannot be deregistered under Section 225A of the Constitution.
According to him, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had informed the court that the affected parties remained compliant with constitutional and electoral requirements.
He noted that ADC won two House of Representatives seats in Kogi State during the 2023 general elections, while APP secured a local government chairmanship seat in Jigawa State and Accord Party won a seat in the Imo State House of Assembly.
Ugochinyere further alleged that the trial judge disregarded a subsisting Court of Appeal order staying proceedings in the matter. He also claimed that lawyers involved in the case were given short notice before the judgment was delivered.
Describing the development as unprecedented, he called on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to convene an emergency meeting to investigate the circumstances surrounding the ruling and determine whether disciplinary measures were necessary.
He also urged the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to intervene in defence of judicial integrity and the rule of law.
“The judiciary remains the last hope of the common man,” he said, warning that disregard for decisions of superior courts could undermine democracy and erode public confidence in the justice system.
Despite the court ruling, Ugochinyere maintained that APP and the other affected parties remain validly registered and would continue preparations for future elections.
He called for an open democratic process, saying, “Let all political parties participate and let Nigerians decide who they want.”
