INEC absent as court adjourns APP deregistration case to April 16
Federal High Court Adjourns Case Over Action Peoples Party’s Disqualification
OWERRI, Nigeria — A Federal High Court in Owerri has postponed proceedings in a case aimed at disqualifying the Action Peoples Party (APP) from participating in future elections. The party’s deregistration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) prompted the legal action.
Originally scheduled to progress, the hearing was adjourned to April 16 due to the absence of a legal representative from INEC and a request for additional time for the APP’s legal team to prepare a defense. The case, designated as Suit No: FHC/CS/03/2026, was brought by Franklin Ngoforo, Coordinator of Civic Action for Democracy (CAC). Ngoforo seeks to formally remove APP from the political party register.
Representatives from the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation attended the hearing, along with members from several civil society organizations. During the proceedings, APP’s legal team requested more time to formulate their defense, while INEC did not send a representative to the court.
After reviewing submissions from both parties, the presiding judge adjourned the case, granting APP approximately seven weeks to prepare a defense.
Constitutional lawyer Chinyere Obi noted that a defendant’s absence typically signifies a lack of defense or an implicit concession to the plaintiff’s argument. Barrister Chinedu Obasi of the Civil Liberties and Accountability Initiative described the case as a pivotal moment, highlighting ongoing challenges concerning electoral integrity in Nigeria. He stated that civil society groups would continue to pressure INEC to uphold electoral standards.
Ngoforo’s complaint includes 21 counts aimed at preventing APP from continuing its operations as a political party. He emphasized that INEC officially deregistered APP on February 6, 2020, and that a Supreme Court ruling in March 2022 upheld this decision.
