A leading promoter of the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), Umar Ardo, has raised fresh concerns over the registration of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), vowing to challenge the process in court over alleged procedural breaches.
ADA is among the 171 political associations that applied to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for registration as political parties. However, the commission announced in February 2026 that only two associations were successfully registered.
Speaking at INEC’s quarterly consultative meeting with political party leaders in Abuja, the commission’s chairman, Joash Amupitan, disclosed that the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) emerged as the only association registered independently by the commission, while the NDC was registered in compliance with a court order.
According to INEC, the applications were assessed in line with relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022, and the commission’s guidelines for political parties.
However, in an interview on Trust TV, Ardo accused INEC of deviating from its established procedures by registering a party that, he claimed, did not undergo the standard screening process.
He alleged that the NDC neither filed a formal application nor submitted key documents, including its constitution, manifesto and executive list, as required under the law, yet secured registration through a court ruling.
“The NDC obtained registration without properly applying. It did not meet the requirements set by the Constitution or INEC guidelines. This is clearly irregular, and we will challenge it,” Ardo said.
He maintained that ADA fulfilled all stipulated requirements, including payment of fees and submission of necessary documents, and was even cleared by INEC to proceed to the final verification stage before being denied registration alongside other groups.
Ardo further questioned the speed and outcome of the judicial process that led to the NDC’s registration, noting that while his group’s case has lingered in court for months, the NDC secured judgment within weeks.
He also criticised INEC for failing to appeal the court ruling and proceeding to issue the NDC a certificate of registration.
“We followed due process and were denied, while another group that did not comply was registered.
This inconsistency undermines confidence in the system and threatens democratic stability,” he added, disclosing that he had invested about ₦200 million in the registration process.
The ADA promoter said he would pursue legal redress against both INEC and the NDC, insisting that the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system must be upheld.
Meanwhile, the NDC has dismissed Ardo’s claims. In a statement, its National Secretary, Ikenna Enekweizu, described the allegations as “mischievous and misleading,” maintaining that the party’s registration followed due legal process.
The controversy comes amid shifting political alignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, following the recent defection of former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and ex-Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, to the NDC.
Ardo, however, dismissed suggestions that his legal challenge is politically motivated, insisting that his actions are consistent with his history of seeking judicial interpretation on governance issues.
He added that any political party that emerges through what he described as a flawed process must be subjected to legal scrutiny, warning that such developments could have far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s democracy.
