A major controversy has emerged over the registration of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), with promoters of the All Democratic Alliance (ADA) accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of violating its own procedures and granting approval through what they describe as a questionable process.
The allegations were made by Dr. Umar Ardo, a leading figure in the ADA, during separate appearances on Arise News Morning Show and Trust TV. He claimed that the NDC did not participate in any stage of INEC’s official registration process but was still granted recognition as a political party.
According to Ardo, a total of 171 political associations initially expressed interest in registration. He said INEC shortlisted only 14 groups from that pool for further consideration.
He explained that these 14 associations underwent additional screening, after which only eight advanced to the verification stage conducted by the commission. Ardo maintained that the ADA successfully met all requirements and participated throughout each phase of the process.
Despite this, he said the ADA was denied registration without clear justification. He contrasted this with the NDC, which he alleged did not submit an application or appear at any stage of the screening.
Ardo described the development as shocking, questioning how a group that was not part of the official process could suddenly receive a certificate of registration from INEC.
INEC has reportedly cited a court order as the basis for registering the NDC, but Ardo rejected this explanation. He argued that such a legal directive would require proper filings and the involvement of the electoral body in court proceedings.
He said the ADA plans to obtain Certified True Copies of the relevant court documents from the Federal High Court in Lokoja to verify the legitimacy of the order and understand how the decision was reached.
Using an analogy, Ardo likened the situation to awarding a contract to a bidder that neither applied nor took part in the procurement process. He said such an action undermines fairness, transparency, and trust in public institutions.
The issue has triggered frustration among political stakeholders, particularly groups that invested time and resources in complying with INEC’s requirements but were not approved.
Ardo also addressed claims linking the ADA to former Anambra State governor Peter Obi, dismissing the reports as unfounded. He said the ADA is an independent initiative grounded in constitutional rights, emphasizing that any Nigerian has the freedom to sponsor a political party.
He confirmed that the ADA has already initiated legal action to challenge the outcome and is prepared to take the case as far as the Supreme Court if necessary. According to him, the effort is not solely focused on the 2027 general elections but on ensuring that due process and fairness are upheld in Nigeria’s political system.
Ardo stressed that the group is determined to demonstrate that it met all legal requirements and was unjustly excluded from registration.
The dispute comes amid growing scrutiny of Nigeria’s electoral system, with ongoing debates about reforms such as the adoption of compulsory electronic transmission of election results.
Observers say the outcome of the case could have significant implications for public confidence in INEC and the credibility of political party registration processes in the country.
As of the time of reporting, NDC leader Henry Seriake Dickson and the party’s National Chairman, Moses Cleopas, have not responded publicly to the allegations.
