From Everest Ezihe, Owerri
A group, Civic Action for Democracy (CAD) has approached the Federal High Court, Owerri, seeking an order to mandate the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to delist the Action People’s Party (APP) as a registered political party in Nigeria.
Speaking to newsmen at the court premises shortly after filing the suit on Tuesday, the group’s Executive Director, Mazi Franklin Ngoforo said the legal action was a move to protect the country’s democracy, electoral system and the Constitution.
He said, “Just moments ago, we filed a patriotic suit at this Federal High Court in Owerri, with the suit number: FHC/CS/03/2026, challenging the Independent National Electoral Commission’s illegal retention of the deregistered Action Peoples Party in its database of registered political parties”.
“In addition to our main suit, we have filed a Motion on Notice for interlocutory injunction, seeking urgent interim relief to prevent APP from participating in any electoral activities pending the full hearing of the substantive case.
“We are asking the court to immediately restrain INEC from recognizing APP, from accepting its nomination forms, from including it in any electoral materials, and from according it any status as a political party.
“We are also asking the court to restrain APP itself from holding itself out as a registered party, from fielding candidates, from participating in elections, and from engaging in any activities reserved for legitimate political parties.”
Ngoforo continued, “These interim measures are absolutely essential because the harm that would result from APP’s continued illegal activities cannot be adequately compensated by damages after the fact.
“This is not merely a legal action; it is a battle for the soul of Nigerian democracy, and we have taken the fight to the only arena where truth, law, and justice can prevail over corruption, fraud, and institutional compromise: the hallowed chambers of our judiciary”.
“The evidence we have placed before the Federal High Court is overwhelming, incontrovertible, and devastating to any defense that INEC or APP might attempt to mount.
“We have exhibited INEC’s own Notice of Deregistration dated February 6, 2020, listing APP among the seventy-four deregistered parties. We have exhibited the Supreme Court judgment of March 2022 affirming the constitutional validity of that deregistration exercise.” he added.
Ngoforo further urged media practitioners, civil society organizations, students bodies among other stakeholders to join them in the fight to forestall attempt to erode the Nigeria constitution, saying, “we are unrepentantly determined to terminate the fraudulent retention of de-registered APP in INEC list of registered political parties in Nigeria”.
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