Some stakeholders in Awka, Anambra capital, have decried the court order deregistering African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties, saying the judgment is capable of heating up the polity.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a Federal High Court in Abuja had on Monday ordered Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister ADC and four other political parties.
The Presiding Judge, Justice Peter Life, while delivering the judgment, held that the affected parties failed to meet the constitutional requirements outlined in Section 225 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Aside ADC, other affected parties are Action People’s Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and Accord.
However, while speaking with NAN in Awka on Tuesday, the stakeholders queried the timing of the judgment, saying it was coming few months to the 2027 general elections.
They said that the development might result in massive protests and constitute a clog in the wheel of democratic process in the country.
Chief Chris Elumunoh, a veteran journalist and former Chairman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Anambra, described the judgment as sensitive, calling for caution in its enforcement.
Elumunoh said that the court verdict which was based on the poor electoral performance of the political parties and their failure to meet constitutional vote could create confusion.
He noted that the judgment was coming few months to the off-cycle Osun governorship election.
The former Ohanaeze Ndigbo chairman called on the judiciary to live up to its billing as the last hope of a common man rather than creating political tension in the country.
He, however, said that there was no cause for worry, as the affected parties still have the constitutional right to challenge the judgment at the appellate court.
A legal practitioner and public affairs analyst, Mr Maxwell Ede, described the court decision as unfortunate.
Ede advised the affected political parties to seek redress at the Court of Appeal, expressing the hope that justice would be served.
To Mrs Tochi Ifejirika, a civil servant, deregistering the five political parties may create unnecessary political unrest.
Ifejirika said that the beauty of democracy was having a good number of political parties contesting for elective positions, with the electorate having choices.
