The Action Peoples Party, APP, has insisted that its status as a legally registered political party remains intact, citing a Supreme Court ruling which it said effectively ended all legal challenges seeking its deregistration.
The party said the apex court’s decision has cleared the path for its full participation in the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by its National Chairman, Uche Kingsley Nnadi, the APP recalled that the Supreme Court dismissed Appeal No. SC/CV/248/2026 filed by Mr. Blessing Elujiuba, thereby upholding earlier judgments of both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal affirming the party’s constitutional status.
According to the party, the appeal was struck out on May 12, 2026, by a five-member panel of the Supreme Court led by Justice John Inyang Okoro after the appellant voluntarily withdrew the case.
Delivering the ruling, Justice Okoro held: “This appeal is hereby dismissed, having been withdrawn without objection.”
The respondents in the suit were the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the APP and its National Chairman, Uche Kingsley Nnadi.
The APP stated that the Supreme Court’s decision effectively brought to an end a legal challenge that sought to compel INEC to deregister the party on the grounds that it allegedly failed to meet the requirements outlined under Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“With the withdrawal and dismissal of the appeal, the Court of Appeal’s substantive findings in favour of APP remain unchallenged and binding,” the party said.
It explained that in an earlier unanimous judgment, the Court of Appeal sitting in Owerri upheld the decision of the Federal High Court, which found that APP had fulfilled the constitutional conditions necessary to remain a registered political party.
The appellate court, according to the party, dismissed claims that APP had failed to win elections or satisfy the constitutional benchmarks required for continued registration.
Justice Ntong Festus Ntong, who delivered the lead judgment, reportedly held that APP presented credible and uncontroverted evidence demonstrating electoral success, including the victory of a councillorship candidate in Jigawa State and significant gains in local government elections in Rivers State.
The court held that such evidence substantially weakened the argument that the party had failed to meet constitutional requirements for continued existence.
The APP further noted that the Court of Appeal endorsed the position of both INEC and the party that the provisions of Section 225A of the Constitution should be interpreted disjunctively, meaning that satisfying any one of the stipulated conditions is sufficient to sustain a political party’s registration.
According to the party, the appellate court unanimously concluded that there was no legal basis for its deregistration.
Justice Oyebisi Folayemi Omoleye reportedly described the appeal as “completely bereft of merit,” while Justice Mohammed Lawal Abubakar agreed that the challenge lacked merit and should be dismissed.
The APP’s statement comes amid renewed attention on political party deregistration following a recent Federal High Court judgment reportedly ordering the deregistration of some political parties.
Nnadi argued that any attempt to revisit the matter would run contrary to the Supreme Court’s position, maintaining that the party’s legal status has already been conclusively determined.
“For APP and its supporters, the ruling represents the end of a prolonged legal battle and a decisive judicial affirmation that the party remains a lawful political platform entitled to participate in the 2027 general elections,” he said.Alternative Headlines:
APP Cites Supreme Court Verdict, Insists It Cannot Be Deregistered
2027: APP Says Supreme Court Ruling Confirms Its Continued Registration
