Tension is rising over the registration of the Senator Dickson-led National Democratic Congress, with the All Democratic Alliance questioning how the process was handled.
Leaders of the ADA allege that the NDC’s approval did not follow the established procedures set by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Speaking on Arise News Morning Show and Trust TV, Dr Umar Ardo faulted INEC, accusing the commission of straying from its own guidelines by granting registration to a group he insists never completed the required screening stages.
He explained that 171 associations initially indicated interest in becoming political parties, but only 14 were shortlisted by INEC. That list, published on September 15, 2025, marked the beginning of a verification phase involving physical offices across the country.
According to Ardo, just eight groups progressed to that stage via INEC’s portal, with the ADA among those that complied fully but still failed to secure approval.
He said: “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 also dismissed INEC’s claim that the NDC’s registration stemmed from a court directive, arguing that such a process would require proper filings and the commission’s involvement.
“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.
He maintained that the NDC was not present at any stage of the process, making its sudden certification difficult to reconcile with standard procedures.
Drawing a comparison, Ardo likened the situation to awarding a contract to a bidder who never took part in the bidding, warning that such actions raise serious concerns about transparency and fairness.
Frustration is also growing among other stakeholders who say they invested time and resources to meet INEC’s criteria but were ultimately left out.
Ardo further dismissed speculation linking the ADA to Peter Obi, stressing that the group operates independently. He confirmed that legal steps are already underway, adding that the ADA remains committed to ensuring due process within Nigeria’s political system.
