By Sandra Micheals
Honourable Ikenga Ugochinyere, the National Leader of the Action Peoples Party (APP) and member representing Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency of Imo State, has expressed strong opposition to the Federal High Court judgment in Abuja which ordered the deregistration of five political parties, describing the move as an “invitation to anarchy” and a severe threat to the nation’s democratic stability.
The Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, had ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), Accord Party, and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), citing their alleged failure to comply with constitutional requirements for continued registration.
The legal action was initiated by the National Forum of Former Legislators, which prayed the court to compel the electoral umpire to expunge the affected parties from its register.
Speaking on the development in an interview in Abuja, the federal lawmaker cautioned that if the judgment is not challenged, it could lead the country down a perilous path, reminiscent of past eras of political instability experienced in Nigeria and other parts of Africa.
Ugochinyere asserted that the APP and the other affected parties remain legally registered entities and will continue to participate in all future elections.
He maintained that the constitutional requirements for retaining party registration have long been settled by higher courts.
“There are at least three Federal High Court judgments, a Court of Appeal decision, and a Supreme Court ruling that have interpreted Section 225A of the Constitution,” Ugochinyere stated. “These judicial precedents have clearly established that political parties which have secured electoral victories—be it at the councillorship, chairmanship, state assembly, or National Assembly levels—cannot be deregistered.”
Describing the court’s decision as unprecedented, the lawmaker called on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to urgently convene to investigate the circumstances surrounding the judgment and ensure that appropriate disciplinary measures are taken if any judicial misconduct is identified.
