The Accord Party has dismissed suggestions that it may be deregistered by the Independent National Electoral Commission insisting that it remains fully compliant with all legal requirements for political parties in Nigeria.
In a statement on Monday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Joseph Omorogbe, described the calls for its deregistration as unfounded, adding that they stemmed from either “political mischief or misunderstanding of the law.”
He referenced Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which outlines conditions under which a political party can lose its registration, including failure to win elective seats or meet minimum electoral performance thresholds.
According to him, the party has satisfied these requirements. “Accord clearly meets the constitutional provisions and therefore has no basis for deregistration,” he said, adding that recent electoral outcomes in some wards and state constituencies support the party’s standing.
Omorogbe also noted that the party has attracted new political figures, including elected lawmakers and supporters across different states, which he said reflects growing acceptance of its ideology.
He further cited victories in councillorship elections in Jigawa State and a state assembly seat win in Imo State during the 2023 elections cycle, arguing that these demonstrate continued electoral relevance, even though one of the victories was later overturned by a tribunal.
The party also dismissed a legal challenge reportedly filed by some former lawmakers seeking the deregistration of certain political parties, including Accord, describing the case as “legally weak and politically motivated.”
Reacting to the involvement of the Attorney General of the Federation in the suit, the party accused him of taking a partisan position, a claim it said was inappropriate for his office.
“The office of the Attorney General should not be seen aligning with politically motivated claims without proper verification,” Omorogbe stated.
Accord further maintained that INEC had recently conducted a verification exercise at its national secretariat in Abuja, which it interpreted as an indication of continued recognition and compliance with regulatory standards.
The controversy follows a court action seeking to compel INEC to deregister several political parties over alleged failure to meet constitutional requirements. The matter is currently before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Meanwhile, the Attorney General of the Federation has argued in court filings that INEC should ensure strict compliance with electoral laws, insisting that parties that fail to meet the legal threshold should not remain registered.
