Sowore condemns court order deregistering five political parties, calls move “undemocratic”

Abdullateef Fowewe

All Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore has condemned a Federal High Court order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five political parties — the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord, Action Alliance, Action Peoples Party, and Zenith Labour Party — for failing to meet constitutional performance thresholds.

Sowore in a statement on Monday criticised the timing of the court’s decision, noting the affected parties had already held primaries and were preparing for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.

He said the move was incompatible with a healthy multiparty system and framed it as an attack on democratic norms.

“I totally condemn the deregistration of political parties that have already concluded their primaries and are preparing for general elections. Such an action is undemocratic, and unjustifiable in a multiparty democracy. It shall not stand!” Sowore wrote, positioning himself as defending broader democratic principles despite his All Action Congress (AAC) affiliation and the deregistered parties’ weak showing in the 2023 elections.