A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Monday, granted an application for Joinder of Accord Party, Zenith Labour Party, ZLP, and APP in the Deregistration Suit filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators.

The judicial relief cleared the stage for full hearing of the suit, seeking to deregister ADC, Accord, ZLP, APP and AA.

The court held that the amendment was necessary to formally bring all affected parties before it, since they are necessary and proper parties for the just determination of the suit.

In a brief ruling, the trial judge directed parties, who are yet to respond to the amended processes, to do so promptly, stressing that the case is time-sensitive. He noted that with “party primaries approaching, there is an urgent need to resolve the matter without delay.”

Justice Lifu, subsequently, ordered all parties to file the necessary processes on or before May 1.

Meanwhile, the lead Counsel to the plaintiff, NFFL, Gbenga Peter Makanjuola Esq., expressed appreciation to the Court for a well considered ruling, which he said, serves the interest of justice and fairness to all parties.

Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the NFFL, Raphael Igbokwe, said the court’s decision has now cleared the way for hearing of the substantive suit.

Igbokwe maintained that the suit is fundamentally about the interpretation of constitutional provisions.

He questioned the delay by some defendants in responding to the suit.

The presiding judge had earlier ordered an accelerated hearing in view of INEC’s timetable for party primaries. The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2025, seeks to compel INEC to enforce Section 225A of the Constitution on political parties alleged to have failed to meet required Constitutional thresholds.

The case was last heard on the 17th April was adjourned to April 27, 2026.