The African Alliance Party (AAP) has issued a formal threat of legal action against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), accusing the electoral body of unjustly excluding it from the list of newly registered political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections. The party insists it fulfilled all legal and regulatory requirements, a claim it says INEC ignored.
The warning came in a press release issued in Abuja on Saturday, titled “Register AAP Now or Face Legal Action.” The statement was signed by Abubakar Sadiq, AAP’s National Publicity Secretary, who criticised INEC’s decision-making process and alleged that the commission’s actions undermine democratic fairness in Nigeria’s evolving political landscape.
On Thursday, the electoral commission announced that after a rigorous screening exercise, it had approved the registration of only two political platforms: the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA), which INEC said met all statutory requirements for registration, and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), whose recognition followed a Federal High Court order.
According to INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, the commission reviewed applications from 171 political associations, but only DLA satisfied the commission’s conditions for registration. Despite AAP’s submission, it was left off the final list.
In its statement, AAP strongly rebuked INEC, arguing that its exclusion was inconsistent with constitutional and electoral law.
The party maintained it had complied with: Sectional provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Electoral Act; andINEC’s own Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties (2022).
“The AAP demands immediate registration as a political party by INEC or face legal action. The integrity of INEC is at stake,” Sadiq said, accusing the commission of “double standards.” He raised particular concern over the registration of the NDC, which AAP claims did not participate in the standard registration process or feature on INEC’s official platforms during public notification phases.
Sadiq also invoked confidence in Nigeria’s judiciary, describing the courts as “the temple of justice and the last hope of all aggrieved citizens,” and pledged that the party would use legal avenues to defend democratic principles. “We will defend and deepen the nation’s democracy despite the antics of reactionary forces bent on suffocating the democratic space,” he said.
Sadiq challenged the legal foundations of INEC’s decision, insisting that court orders relied upon by INEC must be supported by credible evidence proving participation in the registration process. “You cannot build something on nothing,” he warned, signaling AAP’s intention to argue in court that the electoral commission’s procedures were flawed, biased, and amounted to a “policy somersault.”
The party’s position sets the stage for a potentially high-profile legal confrontation as Nigeria’s political landscape continues to diversify with new parties seeking formal recognition. If AAP follows through with its threat, the outcome could have ramifications for how INEC conducts political party registrations in the critical run-up to the 2027 elections.
