The Federal High Court in Abuja has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to commence the registration of the All Democratic Alliance (ADA) as a political party, giving the electoral body 72 hours to comply.
Justice Peter Lifu issued the order on Monday, directing INEC to release the party’s access code to the association led by Akin Ricketts within the stipulated period.
The dispute stems from ADA’s application for registration after INEC, in October 2025, listed the association among 14 groups that had successfully completed the initial requirements for political party registration.
Although ADA was among eight associations cleared to proceed to the next stage, the group approached the court, alleging that INEC mistakenly released its access code to Umar Ardo, whom it insisted was neither its Pro-tem National Chairman nor Secretary.
The association asked the court to compel INEC to issue the correct access code, enabling it to upload the necessary documents required for registration.
It also sought a declaration that INEC acted unlawfully by granting the access code to Ardo and argued that all information he submitted on behalf of the association should be declared illegal, null and void because it differed from the details contained in ADA’s original letter of intent.
In addition, the plaintiff requested an order directing INEC to officially register ADA as a political party, issue its certificate of registration and extend the deadlines for submitting its digital membership register and candidates.
Delivering judgment, Justice Lifu held that INEC acted wrongly by releasing the access code to Ardo, declaring the action unlawful, null and void.
The court further ordered the electoral commission to reopen its online registration portal for one week to enable the association to upload all required documents, including its membership register, in accordance with the law.
Justice Lifu also nullified every action previously taken on behalf of ADA by Ardo.
While the plaintiff had requested 96 hours for the access code to be issued, the court instead granted INEC 72 hours to comply with the order.
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