A leading promoter of the All Democratic Alliance, Dr Umar Ardo, has raised fresh concerns over alleged irregularities in the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, vowing to challenge the process in court.
ADA is one of the 171 political associations that applied to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for registration as political parties.
However, in February 2026, INEC disclosed that it registered only two as political parties.
During the commission’s quarterly consultative meeting with leaders of political parties in Abuja in February, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed that the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) was registered as the only association out of the 171 associations seeking registration as political parties, and that the NDC was registered in obedience to a court order.
He said the associations were assessed in line with Sections 222 and 223 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), Sections 75 and 79(1), (2) and (4) of the Electoral Act, 2022, as well as Clause 2 of the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, 2022.
But while speaking on Trust TV, Ardo accused INEC of deviating from its procedures by registering a political party he said did not undergo the official screening process.
However, NDC in a statement by its National Secretary, Ikenna Enekweizu, described Ardo’s claim as mischievous and misleading.
On Sunday, Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party and former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, formally joined the NDC after dumping the African Democratic Congress.
The two politicians were officially registered as members of the party on Sunday at its national secretariat in Abuja, where they were issued membership cards.
Ardo, in a recent interview with DCL Hausa, insisted that the registration of the NDC was marred with irregularities, vowing to escalate the situation to court.
He said, “The Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) obtained registration without properly applying. It did not meet the requirements set by the law, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, or INEC guidelines. It is clearly irregular. If there is any other party that failed to meet the requirements but was registered, I will challenge it in court.
“As for ADA, we formally applied for registration with INEC. We met all the stipulated requirements and paid the necessary fees. On September 10, 2025, INEC wrote to us confirming that we had met the conditions and qualified for the next stage, which involved presenting our executives, their credentials, and other supporting documents for verification before final registration. We complied fully. However, we were suddenly denied registration, along with 13 other groups. We immediately went to court.
“In February, 2026, INEC announced that it had registered two parties. One, they said, was registered independently by the commission, while the other was registered following a court order. We have no issue with their independent decision. But regarding the party they claimed was registered by court order, the NDC, it is troubling.
“Apart from submitting a letter of intent, the NDC did not file a formal application, was not shortlisted, did not use the INEC registration portal, and did not submit key documents such as its constitution, manifesto, or executive membership list as required by law and guidelines. Yet, the court ordered its registration. We cannot accept that.”
Ardo added that they would seek legal redress and ensure that justice is served.
He stated, “We are appealing the process. The NDC did not present the required documents before the court, yet judgment was given in its favour. We initially dragged INEC to court and will now proceed on appeal.
“We may not yet be a registered party, but we have a legitimate interest. We followed due process and were denied, while another group that did not comply was registered. Within 32 days of filing its case, the NDC secured judgment. Our own case has been in court for five months without a ruling. This kind of inconsistency brings instability and undermines peace in the country.
“INEC did not appeal the judgment. Instead, it went ahead to register the NDC and issued it a certificate. Even on INEC’s website, the party’s leadership is listed as having emerged by court order. Yet, at the time of the ruling, no names were submitted. The names were only provided after registration.
“We invested heavily in the process. I personally spent about ₦200 million and we established offices across the country. Yet, we were denied registration.”
Ardo further noted that INEC, the NDC, and the process that led to the outcome must be questioned, vowing to pursue an appeal involving both INEC and the NDC.
Asked if he was being used by the current administration to destabilise the NDC ahead of the 2027 general elections, Ardo claimed that he had a long record of seeking judicial redress, noting that he had been to court 15 times and had taken on past presidents, including Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari.
He added, “I reject that. I believe the NDC’s emergence raises legitimate concerns. I suspect the party may have been engineered by President Tinubu. How can a group that did not follow due process secure registration and court backing without INEC appealing the decision? I have a track record of challenging those in power and I cannot be manipulated.
“The issue is not about timing. The NDC was registered on February 5, 2025 and I challenged it on September 6, 2025. It has nothing to do with the party attracting prominent figures. The concern is that if a party emerges through a process marred by irregularities, it raises questions about the kind of government it can provide.
“This is not about targeting the NDC alone. If any party was registered without meeting legal requirements, I will challenge it. The NDC is being included because it benefited from what we see as a flawed process. Those considering joining the party should be aware of how it was registered.”
