{"id":125683,"date":"2026-02-16T20:21:08","date_gmt":"2026-02-16T19:21:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/?p=125683"},"modified":"2026-02-16T20:21:08","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T19:21:08","slug":"battle-of-sans-as-adc-accord-others-deregistration-suit-stalls-at-abuja-court","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/battle-of-sans-as-adc-accord-others-deregistration-suit-stalls-at-abuja-court\/","title":{"rendered":"Battle of SANs as ADC, Accord, Others Deregistration Suit Stalls at Abuja Court"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">By Lizzy Chirkpi<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It was a battle of legal supremacy on Monday at the Federal High Court of Nigeria in Abuja, as Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) stormed the courtroom for a high-stakes showdown over the fate of several political parties. Although the proceeding was abruptly halted due to the absence of the presiding judge.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The suit seeking the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), and the Action Peoples Party (APP) was shifted to Tuesday, February 24, 2026.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Despite the packed courtroom and heavy presence of senior lawyers, proceedings could not commence, forcing an adjournment that only heightened tensions surrounding the politically sensitive case.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The court premises was buzzing with activity as top legal minds representing the National Forum of Former Legislators, the Independent National Electoral Commission, and the affected political parties squared up for what many called a looming legal fireworks display.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Each of the NFFL, INEC and ADC reportedly fielded two Senior Advocates of Nigeria, while Accord and other parties were also represented by senior counsels.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cThe suit filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators seeks a clear interpretation of the Constitution and aims to expound and strengthen Nigeria\u2019s electoral jurisprudence,\u201d said lead counsel for the group, Yakubu Ruba, while addressing journalists after the court session.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He stressed that the case was not a political witch-hunt but a constitutional test meant to uphold democratic standards.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cThis action is about the rule of law and ensuring that political parties operating in Nigeria meet the requirements clearly laid down in the Constitution,\u201d Ruba added.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The National Forum of Former Legislators had filed the suit in December 2025, challenging the continued recognition of the listed parties over alleged failure to meet the constitutional threshold for political party existence.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the group, allowing non-compliant parties to remain on the ballot weakens Nigeria\u2019s democratic system and undermines electoral credibility.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cThis case represents a crucial step toward building a more credible, functional and law-abiding political process,\u201d the Forum maintained in a statement.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With some of Nigeria\u2019s most powerful legal minds now locked in the courtroom contest, expectations are high that the resumed hearing will ignite a fierce constitutional battle one that could reshape the country\u2019s political landscape ahead of future elections.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">All eyes now turn to February 24, when the long-anticipated clash of Senior Advocates is expected to finally begin.<\/div>\n<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Related Posts generic via filter on the_content -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Lizzy Chirkpi It was a battle of legal supremacy on Monday at the Federal High Court of Nigeria in Abuja, as Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) stormed the courtroom&hellip;<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on wp_trim_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on wp_trim_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Related Posts generic via filter on wp_trim_excerpt --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":112201,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-125683","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.8 - 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