Following the Action Peoples Party’s (APP) deregistration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), a Federal High Court in Owerri sought to disqualify the party from taking part in any electoral exercise; however, the case was adjourned.
The entire commencement of the lawsuit was postponed until April 16 due to INEC’s lack of a legal representative and the APP’s request for additional time to prepare a defence.
One Mr. Franklin Ngoforo, who is the Coordinator of Civic Action for Democracy (CAC), filed the complaint with Suit No: FHC/CS/03/2026. He is seeking the delisting of APP as a political party.
Civil society organisations and federal government solicitors from the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation were present in court.
The legal team representing APP requested further time to prepare their defence at the start of the proceedings, but no legal representation from INEC was present.
Following the consideration of all arguments, the presiding judge postponed further proceedings until April 16. This will provide the legal team representing APP almost seven weeks to prepare any reply they may like to submit.
According to constitutional lawyer Chinyere Obi, who spoke on the subject, a defendant’s decision to not show up in court or to have legal representation usually means that they are either prepared to admit defeat or that they do not have a defence to offer.
Civil Liberties and Accountability Initiative’s Barr. Chinedu Obasi saw the proceedings as a turning point, indicating that Nigeria is still fighting for electoral integrity.
To make sure INEC does the right thing in that area, he said civil society organisations will put pressure on them. The purpose of Ngoforo’s 21-count allegation was to prohibit APP from engaging in political activities.
He brought up the fact that APP was deregistered by INEC on February 6, 2020, and that the endorsement of that deregistration came from a March 2022 ruling by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.