Olamilekan Abayomi
Afrobeats star Davido has publicly criticized moves to deregister the Accord Party, calling it undemocratic and a sign of political intolerance. He made his position known in a post on his verified X account on Thursday, responding to growing calls for the party’s removal from INEC’s register. His comment was brief but direct: “Deregister Accord party for what? Cowards let’s go to the field!” The post, accompanied by peace sign and Nigerian flag emojis, quickly drew reactions from supporters and critics debating the role of opposition parties in Nigeria’s democracy.
The controversy stems from a suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking the deregistration of several political parties, including the Accord Party, African Democratic Congress, Action Alliance, and Zenith Labour Party. The suit, filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators, argues that these parties have failed to meet constitutional requirements for continued registration. Justice Peter Lifu has fixed June 5, 2026, for judgment after lawyers adopted their final written addresses in the case marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026.
Davido did not name any individual or institution in his post, but the timing suggests it’s tied to ongoing political debates ahead of future elections. The Accord Party has become more visible in Osun State since Governor Ademola Adeleke defected from the Peoples Democratic Party in December 2025. Adeleke emerged as the party’s governorship candidate for the August 8, 2026 election, and Davido followed by joining the party and announcing plans to collect his membership card in Osogbo.
The singer’s family ties to Osun politics give his comment extra weight. As the nephew of Governor Adeleke, Davido has increasingly used his platform to support his uncle’s political moves. His involvement has also stirred tensions within the Accord Party itself, where multiple factions have clashed over leadership and the legitimacy of Adeleke’s defection. At least three groups have laid claim to the party’s national leadership, with some accusing Adeleke of joining “through the back door”.
Accord Party officials have pushed back against the deregistration push, arguing that the party meets constitutional thresholds through its elected officials. The party says it has a governor, a senator, six House of Representatives members, 24 members of the Osun State House of Assembly, and two councillors in Jigawa State. It also points to INEC’s recent verification exercise at its national secretariat as proof of compliance. Party leaders have described the suit as politically motivated and warned against using the courts to shrink political competition.
The Attorney General of the Federation has sided with the plaintiffs, arguing that INEC has a constitutional duty to deregister parties that fail to meet electoral performance benchmarks. The AGF’s office contends that allowing such parties to remain on the register undermines the integrity of the electoral system. Supporters of the suit say Section 225 of the Constitution leaves INEC no discretion once a party fails to secure the required seats or votes.
For Davido and many Accord supporters, the push to deregister the party looks like an attempt to suppress opposition ahead of the 2026 election cycle. Adeleke’s media aide described the call as part of a broader plan to weaken rival platforms, accusing opponents of “obsession with illegal and unconstitutional thinking.” The party itself has urged Nigerians to disregard what it calls rumors spread by “political jobbers and disgruntled elements” afraid of its growing acceptance.
The court’s decision in June will determine whether Accord remains on INEC’s register or faces removal alongside other parties named in the suit. Until then, the debate reflects a wider tension in Nigerian politics between efforts to streamline the party system and concerns about protecting political pluralism. Davido’s intervention has added a high-profile voice to that debate, framing the issue as one of fairness and the right to compete on the ballot.
