A leading promoter of the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), Dr. Umar Ardo, has vowed to challenge in court the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), alleging that the party’s recognition by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was flawed and did not follow due process.
Ardo said the legal action would also cover any other political party that, in his view, failed to meet statutory requirements but was still registered by the electoral body.
The ADA is one of 171 political associations that applied to INEC for registration ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In February 2026, INEC announced that only two associations were registered as political parties. The commission’s chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, said the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) emerged as one of the registered parties after meeting all requirements, while the NDC was registered following a court order.
Amupitan said the associations were assessed in line with Sections 222 and 223 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Sections 75 and 79 of the Electoral Act 2022, and INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties.
However, Ardo rejected the explanation, insisting that the NDC did not go through the official screening and application process.
“The Nigerian Democratic Congress obtained registration without properly applying. It did not meet the requirements set by law or INEC guidelines,” he said. “It is clearly irregular, and we will challenge it in court.”
He claimed that ADA had complied fully with INEC requirements, including payment of fees and submission of all necessary documentation, and had even been cleared for the next stage of verification before being denied registration.
Ardo also faulted the process that led to the NDC’s emergence, arguing that the party was neither part of the initial screening nor properly documented under INEC’s registration portal.
He further questioned the court judgment that led to the party’s registration, insisting that INEC and the judiciary must be held accountable for what he described as inconsistencies in the process.
“We are appealing the process. The NDC did not present the required documents before the court, yet judgment was given in its favour,” he said. “We will proceed on appeal.”
Ardo also alleged delays in ADA’s own court case compared to the speed at which the NDC secured its judgment, describing the disparity as concerning for electoral integrity.
He dismissed suggestions that his opposition to the NDC was politically motivated, saying his actions were based strictly on principle and a long history of legal activism.
“This is not about politics or personalities. I have challenged governments before, including past presidents. This is about due process,” he said.
Ardo added that any party registered outside established legal frameworks undermines public confidence in the electoral system and warned that ADA would continue to pursue justice in court.
