“You Are Playing With Fire” – Ugochinyere Raises Alarm Over Plot To Deregister Political Parties

Member representing Ideato North and South Federal Constituency of Imo State in the House of Representatives, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere has alleged that plans are underway to deregister major opposition political parties ahead of 2027 election.

He raised the alarm at a press conference in Abuja.

The lawmaker warned that any attempt to deregister opposition parties could throw the country into political crisis and jeopardize Nigeria’s democracy.

The federal lawmaker said unnamed political actors were using the courts in a bid to weaken political competition before the next elections by hunting down opposition parties.

He also mentioned the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Peoples Party (APP) and Accord Party and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

The decision was to prevent opposition candidates from being able to participate effectively in the upcoming elections, he said.

“What kind of anarchy you want this country to go through?

“You cannot deregister political parties few months to elections and expect Nigerians to sit down and do nothing. “You are playing with fire,” Ugochinyere asked.

He said parties such as ADC, Accord and APP have met the constitutional requirements by winning electable positions including seats in the councilorship.

“The Constitution is very clear. Once a party wins a single councillorship seat, the issue of deregistration does not arise,” he said.

Ugochinyere also cited previous rulings of the Federal High Courts in Uyo and Awka and rulings of the Court of Appeal which he said confirmed that parties that met the constitutional thresholds could not be deregistered.

He said parties such as ADC, Accord and APP had already met constitutional requirements of winning elective positions including councillorship seats.

“The Constitution is very clear. Once a party wins a single councillorship seat, the issue of deregistration does not arise,” he said.

Ugochinyere also referred to previous decisions of the Federal High Courts in Uyo and Awka, and rulings of the Court of Appeal, which he said supported the fact that parties that met constitutional requirements could not be deregistered.

He also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission not to appeal the recent Federal High Court ruling on some parts of the electoral timetable, warning that it could cast a cloud on the 2027 elections.

“Confusion is not something the country can afford at this critical moment.

“Appealing this judgment will create tension, uncertainty and doubts about the credibility of the elections,” he said.

The lawmaker implored President Bola Tinubu, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the National Judicial Council and security agencies to preserve the sanctity of democratic institutions and guarantee political inclusiveness ahead of the 2027 polls.