Nigeria’s Attorney General of the Federation has backed a legal suit seeking the deregistration of several political parties, including the African Democratic Congress, over alleged violations of constitutional provisions.
The position was outlined in a notice filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, where the AGF is listed as a defendant alongside the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and multiple political parties such as the Action Alliance, Action Peoples Party, Accord, and Zenith Labour Party.
In the filing, the AGF stated that it supports the case in line with its constitutional responsibility to uphold and protect the Constitution of Nigeria.
The AGF maintained that it is constitutionally mandated to initiate, defend, or support actions aimed at ensuring compliance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The AGF argued that its role, as defined under Section 150(1) of the Constitution, includes ensuring proper enforcement of laws such as the Electoral Act, adding that its intervention in the case aligns with its duty to act in the public interest and guarantee proper interpretation and application of the law.
The AGF further noted that, in its dual capacity as an advocate for the state and defender of citizens’ rights, it must act in the public interest by supporting the plaintiff’s case to promote justice and ensure that laws are correctly interpreted and applied.
The filing also emphasised the importance of access to justice, noting that many citizens lack the means to challenge constitutional violations without institutional backing.
It added that the Attorney General’s support plays a crucial role in bridging the gap by facilitating access to justice for plaintiffs seeking to challenge alleged violations of their constitutional rights.
According to the AGF, the continued existence of underperforming political parties contributes to ballot overcrowding, increased election costs, and administrative challenges, contrary to the intent of Section 225A of the Constitution.
The AGF stressed that retaining non-performing political parties would inflate ballot papers, strain public funds, complicate election administration, and undermine the constitutional objective of Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution.
The AGF further argued that INEC has no discretion to retain parties that fail to meet constitutional thresholds, warning that failure to deregister such parties could amount to a breach of constitutional duty.
The case marks a new phase in ongoing legal disputes over the regulation of political parties and the enforcement powers of INEC under Nigeria’s constitutional framework.
