Former federal lawmakers have denied asking a federal high court in Abuja to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for allegedly failing to meet the minimum constitutional requirements for political parties.

Naijaonpoint recalls that the National Forum of Former Legislators (NFFL) had filed a suit against the ADC at the federal high court in Abuja.

The forum, in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2025, filed by Raphael Igbokwe, the national coordinator, who deposed to an affidavit, alleged that the ADC has failed to meet constitutional requirements to retain its status as a political party.

It stated that the ADC did not secure 25 percent of votes in any state during the last presidential election.

The NFFL said the ADC did not win any seat in the August 2025 bye-elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), adding that the outcome fell below the minimum legal threshold.

It urged the court to declare that the ADC has failed to meet the requirements of the constitution and the Electoral Act and should be deregistered.

However, some federal lawmakers under the banner of ‘Concerned Former Members of the National Assembly’, in a statement to Naijaonpoint, have warned against disrespect for legislative seniority and tradition.

The lawmakers dissociate themselves from the lawsuit filed seeking ADC’s deregistration.

It said it is absurd and insulting for a handful of individuals – many of whom are late arrivals to the legislature – to arrogate to themselves the right to speak for this large, diverse, and distinguished body.

The statement read: “We, the undersigned former members of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, hereby issue this detailed rejoinder to fully dissociate ourselves from the lawsuit recently filed at the Federal High Court seeking the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

“We condemn, in the strongest terms, the attempt to use the name and reputation of former legislators to pursue a self-serving political agenda that we neither authorized nor support.

“Over 5,000 Former Legislators Cannot Be Represented by a Small Group of Late Arrivals

“Since 1999, Nigeria’s National Assembly has produced well over 5,000 former Senators and Honourable Members, cutting across:

The First to the Tenth Assemblies
All geopolitical zones
All political tendencies and parties
Several generations of parliamentary leadership

“It is therefore absurd and insulting for a handful of individuals—many of whom are late arrivals to the legislature—to arrogate to themselves the right to speak for this large, diverse, and distinguished body.

“The legislature is an institution built on seniority, hierarchy, parliamentary record, and long-standing tradition. Its culture recognizes experience, ranking, committee leadership, contributions on the floor, and years of national service. These conventions cannot be undermined by persons with no mandate, no legitimacy, and no historical grounding among parliamentary elders.

“To suggest that a few self-appointed individuals represent thousands of former lawmakers is fraudulent, provocative, and unacceptable.

“The individual presenting himself as “National Coordinator” of the National Forum of Former Legislators (NFFL), Hon. Nnanna Igbokwe, is an impostor whose claims have no foundation in legislative convention or collective decision-making.

“His so-called “Exco”:

Was never elected
Was never endorsed
Was never recognized by any legitimate gathering of former lawmakers

“It is nothing more than a hand-assembled clique attempting to exploit the name of ex-legislators for purposes that are neither transparent nor noble.

“We state clearly: they do NOT represent former legislators of Nigeria.

There was:

No congress
No harmonization meeting
No general assembly
No vote
No authorization

“No partisan, bipartisan, zonal, or national coalition of former lawmakers approved, debated, or sanctioned this legal action against ADC.

“The lawsuit is a personal and clandestine initiative, now being falsely presented as the voice of a nationwide community of ex-legislators simply to mislead the court and the Nigerian public.

” The suspicious timing, speed, and secrecy of the lawsuit clearly reveal it as a special-purpose vehicle (SPV) engineered for:

personal financial reward,
political patronage, and
alignment with power brokers.

“It is widely known that the move enjoys quiet encouragement from certain influential political actors, including within the leadership of the House of Representatives.And some Top Government officials,at the centre,here in Abuja.

“This is part of a broader anti-democratic attempt to weaken Nigeria’s political space and nudge the nation toward a de facto one-party state.

“We will resist this agenda with every legitimate democratic tool available.

“Beyond the politics, using the respected institution of ex-lawmakers as a vehicle for manipulation is a direct assault on the dignity, seniority, and tradition of our community.

“Former legislators are custodians of legislative knowledge, institutional memory, and national experience—not political foot soldiers.

“No junior or late-entry legislator has any right to speak over the heads of thousands of their seniors.

“We call on the judiciary to recognize the gross misrepresentation at the heart of this matter and to strike out the suit without delay. It is frivolous, malicious, procedurally defective, and a waste of valuable judicial time.

OUR POSTION.