Umar Ardo, a founding member of the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), has disclosed that the group will appeal a Federal High Court ruling which compelled the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party.
The ruling, delivered by a Federal High Court in Lokoja, ordered INEC to grant registration to the NDC despite the party not being among the associations that initially underwent the commission’s screening process.
ADA was among eight associations pre-qualified by INEC in October 2025 after submitting the required documentation for party registration.
However, INEC later announced that only two groups progressed to the final stage of verification. The NDC, which was not part of the initial shortlist, was subsequently registered following the court directive.
Speaking in an interview, Ardo questioned the legitimacy of the process, alleging that INEC deviated from its established guidelines by registering a party that did not formally apply or meet the stipulated requirements.
He further claimed that the court’s decision was “politically influenced,” insisting that the NDC failed to present key documents such as a constitution, manifesto, and list of executives during proceedings.
“We are filing an appeal,” Ardo said. “It is unacceptable that groups which complied fully with INEC regulations are treated the same as those that did not meet any of the requirements.”
The ADA chieftain also expressed concern over what he described as unequal judicial treatment, noting that while his group’s case has been pending for several months, the NDC’s case was concluded within a short period.
According to him, the association has invested significant resources, including establishing offices nationwide, in pursuit of registration and will challenge the ruling on grounds of fairness and due process.
The development adds another layer of controversy to the emergence of the NDC, which has recently gained political traction ahead of the 2027 general elections.
