A fresh wave of controversy has trailed the registration of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), with the All Democratic Alliance (ADA) raising concerns over the legitimacy of the process and threatening legal action against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Promoters of the ADA alleged that the NDC, reportedly led by former governor Senator Dickson, was registered through a process that bypassed established guidelines set by INEC.
Speaking during separate appearances on Arise News and Trust TV, Dr. Umar Ardo, a leading figure in the ADA, criticised the electoral body for what he described as a deviation from laid-down procedures.
Ardo disclosed that a total of 171 political associations initially applied for registration, but only 14 were shortlisted by INEC to proceed to the next phase of the process.
He explained that on September 15, 2025, INEC published the list of the 14 associations that advanced to the stage of nationwide office verification. Of these, only eight reportedly progressed to the verification stage on the commission’s portal.
According to him, the ADA met all stipulated requirements and participated fully in the process but was ultimately denied registration.
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“It is shocking that a political association that did not submit an application, was not shortlisted among the 14, and did not make the final eight, suddenly appeared with a registration certificate,” Ardo said.
He rejected INEC’s explanation that the NDC’s registration was based on a court order, describing the claim as untenable and inconsistent with due legal process.
“For a court to give such an order, there must have been submissions, and INEC must have been served and represented. We intend to obtain Certified True Copies of the court processes from the Federal High Court in Lokoja to understand what transpired,” he added.
Ardo further insisted that the NDC was absent throughout the screening and verification stages, questioning how it eventually secured registration.
He argued that proper judicial procedures would require INEC’s participation in any case leading to such an order, maintaining that the circumstances surrounding the NDC’s registration raise serious concerns about transparency and compliance.
The development has heightened tensions within Nigeria’s political space, as stakeholders call for clarity on the process and adherence to electoral guidelines ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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