A fresh controversy has erupted over the registration of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), as promoters of the All Democratic Alliance (ADA) accuse the electoral body of bypassing due process.
Speaking during separate appearances on Arise News and Trust TV, ADA promoter Dr Umar Ardo claimed the party was registered through what he described as a flawed and non-transparent process that ignored established guidelines.
According to him, about 171 political associations initially applied for registration, but only 14 were shortlisted by the electoral commission. These groups, he said, went through further screening, with just eight advancing to the verification stage.
Ardo maintained that the ADA followed every requirement and participated fully at each stage, yet was denied registration. In contrast, he alleged that the NDC did not appear at any point in the process.
“It is shocking that a group that did not apply, was not shortlisted, and did not make the final stage suddenly received a registration certificate,” he said.
He also rejected claims that the NDC’s registration was based on a court order, arguing that such a decision would require proper legal proceedings with the electoral body fully involved.
To get clarity, he said the group plans to obtain official court documents from the Federal High Court in Lokoja to understand how the decision was reached.
Ardo likened the situation to awarding a contract to a bidder who never applied, warning that such actions could damage public confidence in the system.
The issue has sparked frustration among stakeholders who say they invested time and resources into meeting the requirements but were left out.
He also dismissed suggestions linking the ADA to Peter Obi, describing them as baseless and intended to discredit the movement.
On what comes next, Ardo confirmed that the ADA has gone to court and is ready to pursue the case up to the Supreme Court if necessary. He stressed that the goal goes beyond the 2027 elections, focusing instead on ensuring fairness and accountability in the political process.
“We are determined to prove that we met all the requirements and were unfairly excluded,” he said.
Observers say the outcome of the case could play a major role in shaping public trust in the electoral system and influence how political parties are registered in the future.
