The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has opposed a bid to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The Incorporated Trustees of National Forum of Former Legislators had sought a court order to deregister the opposition party.
In court filings seen by TheCable, the electoral body said the plaintiff’s application failed to meet the basic constitutional requirements.
INEC said the deregistration of any political party is governed by extant laws and constitutional provisions, and not subject to political pressure.
On April 30, the supreme court directed David Mark, factional national chairman of the ADC, and Nafiu Bala, former national vice-chairman of the party, to return to the federal high court for the hearing and determination of issues arising from the leadership dispute within the party.
Since the judgement, the party has witnessed a mass exodus of members, with Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano, leaving the ADC for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
