Court Orders INEC to Release Access Code for ADA Registration Within 72 Hours

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to generate and release an access code to the leadership of the All Democratic Alliance (ADA) within 72 hours to facilitate the party’s registration process.

Justice Peter Lifu, in a judgment delivered on Monday, directed INEC to issue the access code to the party’s Protem Secretary and open its registration portal for one week to enable the association upload all necessary documents, including its membership register, in accordance with the law.

The court also declared illegal, wrongful, null and void the decision of INEC to issue the access code to Umar Ardo, holding that he was not the recognised Protem Secretary of the political association.

The suit was instituted by the party’s Protem National Chairman, Akin Ricketts, through his counsel, Stephen Atabo. The plaintiff argued that INEC violated existing laws by issuing the access code to Ardo, who was neither the Protem National Chairman nor Secretary of the association.

The plaintiff further contended that information uploaded into INEC’s portal on behalf of the association by Ardo was inconsistent with the party’s original letter of intent and should therefore be declared unlawful and of no legal effect.

In addition to seeking the release of the access code, the plaintiff asked the court to direct INEC to register the association as a political party and issue it with a certificate of registration.

The suit also requested an extension of earlier deadlines set by the electoral body for the submission of the party’s digital register of members and candidates.

After reviewing the submissions of the parties, Justice Lifu agreed that Umar Ardo had no legal authority to act on behalf of the association and consequently nullified all actions and steps taken by him concerning the registration process.

The judgment is expected to pave the way for the continuation of ADA’s registration process, potentially adding another political party to Nigeria’s expanding democratic landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.