The African Democratic Congress has moved to challenge the Federal High Court judgment that ordered its deregistration, declaring that it will immediately approach the Court of Appeal to contest the ruling.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, made the position known during an interview on Arise Television on Monday. He said the ADC would not be discouraged by the court decision and remained committed to defending its existence through lawful means.
According to him, the party has faced difficult situations in the past and has continued to grow despite various obstacles. He stated that the latest court judgment would not stop the ADC from pursuing its political goals or preparing for future elections.
Abdullahi said the party had spent years building its structures across the country and had recently conducted what it considers one of the most extensive internal democratic exercises among political parties in Nigeria.
He maintained that the ADC had remained focused on strengthening its organisation and expanding its reach despite challenges encountered along the way. He added that the party believes its primary election process demonstrated its commitment to internal democracy and political participation.
The development follows a judgment delivered on Monday by Justice Peter Odo Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja. The court directed the Independent National Electoral Commission to deregister the ADC, Accord Party and three other political parties over alleged constitutional violations.
As part of the ruling, INEC was also directed to stop recognising the affected parties and prevent them from taking part in activities connected to the 2027 general elections unless they meet the constitutional conditions required for recognition.
The judgment immediately triggered reactions from affected political parties, with the ADC becoming one of the first to announce plans to challenge the decision through the appellate court.
Party officials believe the legal battle is far from over and insist that the court ruling will be subjected to further judicial review. The ADC leadership remains confident that its arguments will be considered at the next stage of the legal process.
With preparations for the 2027 elections already underway, the party said it would continue its political activities while seeking a reversal of the judgment. The appeal is expected to determine the future status of the party and its ability to participate in upcoming electoral contests.
The case is likely to attract national attention as political stakeholders monitor the legal proceedings and await the outcome of the appeal process.